2015 UC Irvine Anteaters

Game Notes

Overall: 5-11-4
Schedule Strength: 19th
RPI: 99

Big West: 3-5-2
Points: 11
Standing: South 3rd

Home record: 3-2-3
Non-conference: 1-2
Big West: 1-2-2

Away record: 2-9-1
Non-conference: 0-5-1
Neutral: 0-0

Average home attendance: 568
Average road attendance: 758

IRON SHARPENS IRON

The Anteaters completed the 2015 season with a record of 5-11-4 as it marched through a grueling schedule once again.

The 'Eaters made trips to No. 10 RPI Creighton, No. 12 RPI SMU, No. 20 RPI UCLA, and even hosted the top conference squads in UCSB (16) and Cal Poly (31) to boost the program to the 19th-toughest schedule in the nation in 2015.

UCI's strength of schedule ranked highest in the conference, and outranked some top-RPI schools such as Stanford (51st), Creighton (60th), and Indiana (98th). Of the 20 strongest schedules in the nation, 17 of them fall in the top 40 RPI with schools like UCI, Northwestern (54), and UMass-Lowell (64) as the lone outliers.

This is nothing out of the ordinary for the crew with a schedule among the 60 toughest in each of the last four seasons. Last year's run to the round of 16 went through the 47th-toughest slate. The 2013 Anteaters ran through the 31st-toughest schedule, and the 2012 squad that also finished with five wins was against the 58th-strongest schedule.

Added to the stout non-conference opponents are the 10 Big West matches. The conference as a whole was rated sixth in the nation, ahead of the Big East, who has four schools within the top 4 in RPI, and also rates higher than the WAC (12th), Ivy League (13th), and WCC (16th).

"We will continue to schedule teams every season that are nationally ranked to boost out RPI," relayed Head Coach Chris Volk. "Our players look forward to playing games that give us an opportunity to be ranked amongst the nation's top programs. It is important for them to learn to compete and be successful in these type of games."

The commitment to scheduling can be seen in the recently released NCAA Tournament field where exactly 1/3 of the field (16 teams) have shown up on the Anteater schedule over the past four seasons. Even extending back to a fifth season finds two more schools in Drake and South Florida. This season alone, six tournament squads had to go through the 'Eaters including three non-conference foes (UCLA, Creighton, SMU).

RECORD COMPANY

The 'Eaters didn't make a huge dent in the record books, but the 2015 class has made a mark as a team. The main perpetrator was keeper Michael Breslin. Despite being unable to finish his senior campaign on his own terms, he finishes as the all-time leader in program history with 82 starts. His 82 matches played ties him with Jimmy Turner for fourth-most among Anteaters.

He amassed a 40-32-10 record for a .549 win percentage, fifth-best among 'Eater keepers. His 40 wins are second-best along with his 26 shutouts while he ends up third in saves (297) and goals-against-average (1.19).

Mats Bjurman finished alongside him with 82 career matches played, and started 76 matches, third-most in program history. Bjurman fell three assists shy of the top-10 with 14 in his career.

Jaime Phillips got the closest to a single-season mark with seven assists, two short of entrance. He also set a new precedent with a point in seven consecutive matches this season, and had a hand in six consecutive Anteater goals at one point. Gerardo Gonzalez did the same assisting on four consecutive goals while Eduardo Calzada scored a goal in four consecutive matches, and during that run had a hand in four consecutive Anteater goals, as well.

Gonzalez and Ivan Canales each had three-assist matches this season coming in successive games. Prior to 2015, only four Anteaters had done the feat, and none since Matt Murphy in 2005.

"I want to thank our graduating seniors for their efforts and contributions to the program. Their spirit, leadership, and professionalism will be missed. We want to wish them all the best as they finish their academic degrees and pursue their professional careers."

The team set a few single-game marks posting 16 shots on goal at Sacramento State which tied a mark set vs. LIU Brooklyn three years back. They would later break that mark with 17 in a win at UC Riverside. The season finale also saw the squad earn 14 corner kicks, tying a mark set three times previously, while also allowing none to the opposition. Its eight overtime matches fell one short of the program record set in 2007.

EYES ON THE PRIZE

The 2015 Anteaters took a slight step back as far as results, but the preparation for a long leap forward began with youth being served on the pitch.

Canales, as previously mentioned, had a three-assist match this season, part of his five total assists coupled with five goals to make him second in each category on the team which includes his 15 total points in nearly 1,500 minutes of action as a freshman helping him to All-Big West Honorable Mention and All-Freshman Team honors.

He paired with fellow freshman Luis Leon as freshmen with over 1,000 minutes. Leon put home three goals of his own along with one game-winner vs. LMU.

Rounding out the freshman contributions are defender Jorge Lara and holding mid Daniel Crisostomo who each posted over 600 minutes. Lara come on late with five starts down the stretch putting home a pair of goals, one game-winner at CSUN, and some key defending, even claiming a Big West Defender of the Week award. Crisostomo played in 17 of 20 matches this season, mainly as a sub, locking up central defense, and giving a glimmer of the 'Eaters' future midfield plans.

The Anteaters have plenty more returning than just freshmen, however. A stout senior class led by Matthew Tilley, Thomas Janjigian, Andy Mendoza, Jack Birkenbeuel, and Michael Sperber will lock into the formation.

Tilley and Janjigian each started all 20 matches on the year putting in the top two minutes totals on the squad. Both assisted on a goal while providing countless defensive stops, and were recognized as All-Big West team members.

Mendoza and Birkenbeuel complete the backline having seen action in a majority of the 2015 matches. Birkenbeuel will be poised to return coming off a card suspension in the Big West Tournament match and lingering ailments. while Mendoza lost a considerable amount of time due to card accumulations. Sperber is another All-Big West recipient, a three-time member now, and started every match he could outside of card accumulation as a defending mid.

Fellow future seniors Renato Torquato and Edgardo Molina were also instrumental in 2015, and could be pushed into serious goal-scoring duties for next season. The return of Noah Gaines and the emergence of Randall McDermott will continue to add to the depth of Anteaters attacking in droves.

The biggest question remaining would be the goalkeeper situation with the top two in Breslin and Elliot Farmer moving on. Freshman Alex Waldron could be the next in line; in any case, coach Volk, a keeper in his own right, will have a plan.

"Our players gained a tremendous amount of experience this season. We must take what we have learned and improve in many areas in order to have the success this program has achieved in previous seasons. Every player must be willing to work hard and dedicate themselves to becoming better."

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