Juniper Interview Video
IRVINE, Calif. --- Head Coach Scott Juniper and his Anteaters are not backing off the gas pedal putting together another strong schedule in 2016.
The 2016 road begins at home where it has for four of the last five seasons now. Three of those opponents have hailed from outside California now as well with five-time NCAA Tournament contender Fairfield. The weekend concludes with a rematch against Saint Mary's who came into Anteater Stadium as an underdog six years ago and upended the 'Eaters in overtime.
"This team is excited, they've been working hard all summer," praised coach Juniper entering his tenth season at the helm. "To be able to open up at home, I think the fans will enjoy that as well."
Juniper's bunch then heads out onto the western frontier to take on San Jose State, Boise State, and Nevada to test their road skills before returning home against ACC foe, Pittsburgh.
"They're coming from a big conference. Every year we feel better prepared to take on teams from the biggest conferences in the country."
Pittsburgh has made strides to jump into the conversation in the competitive ACC posting 10 wins in 2015. The Panthers will be the first ACC opponent to visit Anteater Stadium in a regular season game in program history, and joins Wake Forest during the 2010 NCAA Tournament as the only ACC schools to square up with the Anteaters.
The 'Eaters embark back on the road for the next five matches staying nearby in Fullerton for a tournament against Oregon out of the Pac-12 and another program out of the East in UAB.
The journey picks up with a second visit to Idaho taking on Idaho State, an opponent from 2015. On the way back, they face off with another solid Pac-12 program, Utah, and stopping by Santa Clara to complete non-conference play with the first of two WCC competitors.
Storied program Portland returns to Anteater Stadium to complete the daunting, non-conference slate to decide the recent series. The Pilots took down UCI in their house last season, 3-1, seeking revenge from a 3-1 defeat UC Irvine handed them in 2011 in front of a record Anteater Stadium crowd.
All signs point to a proven, cohesive squad molded together through the non-conference kiln set to attack the Big West and return to the postseason.
"Every year we're known for putting together schedules that are tough," Juniper reiterated of his staff's mindset piecing together the slate. "We're not just looking to put wins on the win column, it's important to get those wins against quality opponents. It gives our team an experience as well in that first half of the season. It's a combination of trying to put together a great experience for the players and opportunities to get important wins."
UCI's path stays hot jumping into Big West play with trips to Long Beach State, UC Riverside, and UC Davis, but when things really get going the Anteaters will be in their home confines with four straight against CSUN, Cal Poly, UC Santa Barbara, and Hawai'i before ending the season back in Fullerton with plans to play three straight on that field.
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