UPCOMING MATCHES

No. 19 Denver Pioneers vs. No. 17 UC Irvine Anteaters
Fri. Sept. 5 / 3:30 PM
San Diego, Calif.

No. 25 Clemson Tigers vs. No. 17 UC Irvine Anteaters
Sun. Sept. 7 / 4:00 PM
San Diego, Calif.

FIRST AND FOREMOST

UCI came out firing with a full team effort Sunday night in the win. In the first meeting between the schools since 1985, a lot of other firsts made their way into the match:

Head Coach Chris Volk registered his first career win in his head coaching debut. The goalkeeping specialist may have also enjoyed getting a clean sheet as part of it.

Jack Birkenbeuel and Eduardo Calzada each earned their first career starts. Calzada's came in his first career match while Gerardo Gonzalez's first career action came from off the bench.

Calzada also rang home his first career goal as did Renato Torquato.

Torquato, Gor Kirakosyan, and Matt Tilley each saw their first action since 2012. Kirakosyan added his first PK goal in his first attempt.

UCI still has yet to allow its first-ever goal to Pacific. The 'Eaters also blanked them, 7-0, in their only other meeting in 1985.

RANK AND FILE

UC Irvine is ranked 16th in the NSCAA/Continental Tire Preseason rankings. The 'Eaters finished 2014 ranked 13th in the nation.

UCI has earned a preseason ranking four previous times from 2009-12. Its highest preseason ranking came in 2012 at No. 13 in the nation.

Through the preseason website gauntlet, UCI ranks No. 18 according to Top Drawer soccer, No. 15 via the Bennett Rank, No. 19 by way of College Soccer News, No. 20 from Soccer America, and No. 30 as ranked by College Sports Madness.

College Soccer Madness also released their preseason all-conference squads for the Big West Conference. Two Anteaters scored first team honors in seniors Cameron Iwasa and Bryan Breslin. Junior keeper Michael Breslin was named to the second team.

EARLY RETURNS

UCI's non-conference slate features two top-ten schools. No. 7 Cal visited Anteater Stadium in an exhibition match with UCI claiming the 3-1 victory. The 'Eaters later travel to No. 9 Georgetown. Both schools made deep NCAA Tournament runs with the Hoyas reaching the Sweet Sixteen while the Golden Bears fell in the Elite Eight to the same school UCI fell short to, Maryland.

Clemson falls just outside the rankings with 25 votes. Prior to that match, UCI will host Denver, a school receiving just one vote in the preseason poll, but an NCAA Tournament participant in 2013.

Loyola Marymount is the fifth non-conference opponent for the Anteaters that earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2013, but did not receive any votes in the preseason poll. They have been ranked No. 22 according to Top Drawer Soccer.

Two other ranked squads lie in the conference itself. UC Santa Barbara sits at No. 18 and Cal State Northridge is No. 24. Both squads earned berths in the 2013 NCAA Tournament, and each were national seeds. UCI defeated CSUN three times in 2013 with the Matadors being ranked on each occasion.

Five MAC Hermann watch list players are featured on the Anteater schedule. Georgetown features a pair in defender Joshua Yaro and forward Brandon Allen. LMU defender Craig Nitti also makes the list. Two Big West players make the list in UCSB midfielder Ismaila Jome and CSUN forward Sagi Lev-Ari.

Two programs show up on the Anteater schedule for the first time after not having a program last season. Former Big West member Pacific is back on the pitch for the first time since 1984 to open UCI's regular season. Rounding out non-conference play will be Utah Valley as part of the UNLV Rebel Classic in Las Vegas, Nev.

NAME GAME

The coaching staff is comprised of new, yet familiar, names this season. Along with Chris Volk as head coach is assistant coach Mike Ditta. "Elevating Mike to a full-time coach was a natural transition," Coach Volk said. He has assumed many more of the administrative responsibilities within operating the program, and continues to be key in recruiting talented players to UC Irvine." Coach Ditta has been with the program for the past five seasons playing a prominent role in the team's three Big West regular season titles, tournament championships, and NCAA Tournament appearances.

Alongside Ditta on the assistant ranks is Keith Costigan. Costigan comes over from CSU Bakersfield where he was the assistant helping lift them to an NCAA Tournament berth while also eyeing talent such as current L.A. Galaxy forward, Gyasi Zardes.

"Keith has complimented the coaching staff immediately," Coach Volk praised. "His knowledge and enthusiasm of the game has been a welcome addition to the program. I envision he will make similar contributions here at UC Irvine."

Costigan has kept his plate full with responsibilities being very well-connected with many USSDA programs, and he has also been a commentator for Fox Soccer Channel for various events including the recent match between Manchester United and Real Madrid which drew the largest recorded attendance for a soccer match in the United States.

UCI's new volunteer assistant returns to the program after playing for the squad from 2005-08. David Sias was a Big West Freshman of the Year and earned Big West Defender of the Year along with second team Academic All-American status as a senior before being drafted by the Chicago Fire in the third round of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft.

Coach Volk was thrilled in welcoming Sias back to the program. "David was a captain of 2008 squad that took the Big West regular season and tournament and a trip to the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen for the first time in the history of the program. David will have the ability to share his experiences as a former professional player and UCI student-athlete with all of our new and returning players."

The Anteaters lose the likes of "Chino" and "Keykeh", but have added some more colorful nicknames. Junior transfers Eduardo "Lalo" Calzada and Gerardo "Puma" Gonzalez join incoming freshman Ignacio "Nacho" Ramirez  to the cast of uniquely-named 'Eaters.

Adding to the new names is sophomore forward Leo Klink who will now be referred to as Leo Harada.

RECEIVING ATTENTION

UC Irvine clashes with a pair of 2013 NCAA Tournament squads in the coming weekend as part of a tournament with San Diego State.

Denver came into 2014 receiving votes in the preseason poll after finishing 2013 with a 13-3-4 record. It earned an NCAA Tournament berth before falling to Louisville in PKs in the first round.

Early on in 2014, the Pioneers have a pair of 2-1 victories to its name including dropping Big West foe, Cal State Northridge. They scored a 1-0 exhibition victory over Air Force and added a 1-1 draw with New Mexico.

After outshooting CSUN 14-6, Denver was taken to task by Navy being outshot 15-12, however after squandering a late lead, scored the game-winner early in overtime.

Eric Kronenberg has been on point off the bench thus far directing all four shots on target and providing both game-winning goals. Kosta Kordistos and Teddy Mullin have complimented the offense in the shot department. Keeper Ryan Massey has stopped four shots in the early going.

The Clemson Tigers are also sitting in the receiving votes section of the preseason poll after going 11-7-3 in 2013 also falling in the NCAA first round by PKs.

Clemson has yet to allow a goal with exhibition shutouts of UAB and UNC Asheville followed by a 1-0 shutout of Radford in the season opener. The Tigers clash with instate rival South Carolina on Tuesday before trekking to the west coast.

The Tigers fired an 18-5 shot advantage on Radford in the opener with sub Diego Campos leading the way with four. Thales Moreno and T.J. Casner each had three while also linking up on the lone goal.

UCI and Clemson will be meeting for the first time. Its UC Irvine's third matchup with the ACC Conference, the first two coming last year in the 'Eaters' NCAA Tournament matches with UNC and Maryland.

The 'Eaters are 2-1-1 against Denver with the last meeting coming in 2006. All four matches were played at Anteater Stadium with 20 combined goals scored in the matches.