BIG WEST TOURNAMENT

Game Notes

(S3) UC Irvine Anteaters at (N2) Cal Poly Mustangs

Saturday, November 7, 2015
12:00 PM - San Luis Obispo, Calif.
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DAYLIGHT SAVINGS

The Anteaters saw an odd week as the regular season end of the schedule wrapped up. UCI scored a berth in the Big West Tournament despite no wins or goals.

UC Irvine went 200 minutes of soccer without a goal this week. The same could be said of their opponents during the run of play. The only goal conceded came on a 70th minute penalty for the Titans to give them a 1-0 win on Wednesday.

Saturday's match was very obscure with 55 fouls between the squads and 10 cautions. The final caution in the 89th minute resulted in the sending off of Jack Birkenbeuel and Trevor Morley stepping up to the spot for the PK. Fortunately, senior Elliot Farmer was keen to it swatting it wide and sending the match to overtime.

Farmer provided one of the lone bright spots stopping 11 shots and allowing just the one PK goal while stopping the second running his season record to 1-1-1 with two shutouts.

"The team has performed very well defensively over the past four games," noted the defensive-minded Chris Volk. "Mike and Elliot have only conceded one PK each during that span of games. Both goalkeepers have been instrumental in getting the team in a position to compete for the Big West Championship."

TOURNAMENT-ALLY PREPARED

UC Irvine see-sawed its way into the field with an up-and-down road through Big West play.

The status for senior keeper Michael Breslin is unsure as he stands as one of the few 'Eaters vying for Anteater records. His 82 starts have already set a program record as he's the lone 'Eater with 80+ career starts. His 82 appearances rank him fourth alongside Jimmy Turner standing three from the program record of 85 held by Cameron Iwasa and Amani Walker.

Elsewhere, he ranks second in wins (40) and shutouts (26). He remains in third with a 1.19 career goals-against-average, and his .549 win percentage (40-32-10) ranks fifth.

Mats Bjurman's next match will tie him at 82 in his career. His next start will pass Michael Mucino for third on the list at 76. He's also approaching the top-10 assists leader three shy with 14.

Jaime Phillips can enter the single-season ranks with two more assists sitting at seven on the year.

UCI will also be without the services of attacker Gerardo Gonzalez suspended due to red cards. He is scheduled to return should the team make the final. Center back Jack Birkenbeuel will also need to sit out this opening round match having picked up a red vs. CSUN. He is eligible to return next round.

"Our players have learned a tremendous amount from every game they have played throughout the regular season. They have dealt with some adversity, injuries, and unfavorable results along the way. They have experienced almost every possible scenario the game has to offer. Their resiliency and determination to be successful keeps them motivated as we prepare for the Big West Tournament."

OPENING STATEMENT

UC Irvine has reached its first goal that is making the Big West Tournament field. It's the third consecutive season with the 'Eaters in the field, and they have now made seven of eight total tourneys.

In the third year of the six-team field, UC Irvine has now represented as a 1, 2, and 3-seed in the South. Last year's champion, Cal State Fullerton, was also the South 3-seed. The Titans are the only program to trip up UCI in its six previous tournament appearances dishing them a loss (2010 semifinal) and draw (PK loss in 2014 final) in their only two matchups. The Titans will be waiting in the semifinal, but UCI's first order of business is Cal Poly in the opener.

Cal Poly and UC Irvine met just over a month ago on October 4 playing to a 1-1 draw in Anteater Stadium following a UCI loss to UCSB just two days prior.

Since then, Cal Poly has rattled off a 4-1-3 record and jumped into the rankings at No. 23.

The schools have met just once in the Big West Tournament which needed two overtimes to decide in the 2009 semifinal before Carlos Aguilar slotted home his second goal of the match in the 103rd minute. The Anteaters were also a No. 3-seed in that match.

Under this class, the series stands at 1-1-2 with each of the last two matches finishing in a 1-1 draw. In Spanos Stadium, UCI drew last season with a late equalizer, and has suffered a loss back in 2012 when the 'Eaters erased a pair of deficits before finally falling in the 92nd minute.

Chase Minter runs the show for the Mustangs. The newly-minted Big West Midfielder of the Year has seven goals and six assists. Defender Kip Colvey also earned First Team honors (3 G, 2 A). Second-teamers Matt LaGrassa (5 G, 2 A), Ruben Duran (2 G, 2 A), and Kody Wakasa (1 G, 1 A) have had value beyond their statistics.

Big West Goalkeeper of the Year Wade Hamilton has shown his worth with seven shutouts and 59 saves while allowing just under a goal per match (0.98).

The freshmen will be on display as two Mustangs earned All-Freshman team honors in George Grote (0 G, 5 A) and Noah Chapleski (0 G, 2 A) along with the 'Eaters' young studs.

"The players are excited to be playing in the Big West Tournament. Cal Poly is a well-coached team and has many talented players. We will prepare for the next few days on the field and in the classroom to make sure we know as much about our opponent as possible. More importantly, though, our players must approach this road playoff game with the correct mentality and competitive desire to win."

CP has kept it pretty even on the stat sheet. It has had a better go in the first half posting 17 of its 27 goals then. It gives up an even nine goals in each half to opponents. In overtime matches which they've had seven of this year, the Mustangs have been outshot by 12 in the first period with the reverse showing in the second period as it has outshot its opponents by 12.

The Mustang crowds have showed up averaging 1,538 fans outside of the UCSB clash. UCI's last visit brought out 1,103 fans while the lone tournament tilt saw 1,598 in the stands.

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