Big West play starts with two important matches with chances for early points against a pair of 2-win programs in UC Riverside on the road and Sacramento State at home
 


Storylines
• UC Irvine has taken the conference lead in scoring with 20 goals, 2.0 per match, and multiple goals in four straight matches
• UC Irvine men's soccer finishes non-conference play with a 6-4-1 mark, UCI entered conference play at 5-3-1 in 2017
• Ivan Canales has 19 career goals needing one more to become the 12th Anteater with 20 or more goals over a career. With two more assists, he will become the third 'Eater with at least 20 assists all-time
• The 'Eaters fell to No. 10 Saint Mary's putting them at 20-26-6 all-time against ranked squads. The Gaels continued its march through the 2018 season remaining unbeaten at 11-0-0
• Jose Ortiz's six goals tie him atop the Big West scoring leaders, Ivan Canales is the conference's leader in game-winning goals with three, and the pair are joined by Alvaro Quezada in the top 10 in Big West points (9)
  
About UC Riverside
• The Highlanders are trending up despite a 2-7-1 mark through non-conference play. UCR's wins have come in its last two matches trumping Cal Baptist and San Diego, and gave Saint Mary's its toughest test falling 4-3.
• Riverside began 2017 historically bad losing its first 10 matches before turning it around, making the Big West Tournament, defeating UC Santa Barbara, and ending the season at 5-13-1. The preseason poll slotted UCR to finish 7th in the 8-team Big West
• Daniel Aguirre leads the offense with three goals on 17 shots, Dusan Keca has added three goals, two on PKs, out of the defensive backfield, Adrian Medina and Roberto Garcia have each started all 10 matches, and keeping Edwyn Gutierrez has stopped 30 shots and earned a pair of shutouts despite allowing over two goals per match
• This will mark the first time UCI and UCR will only meet once in the regular season since the two first matched up in 2001. In those 17 series, UCI went unbeaten eight times, split four times including each of the last two seasons, UCR took the series four times, and they've met once in the Big West Tournament with UCI taking the win back in 2011
• UC Riverside assistant coach Chris Volk spent 17 seasons as a UC Irvine assistant and three years as the program's head coach before coach Raz took over last season
 
About Sac State
• The Hornets have fought to a 2-6-2 record with OT wins over Bakersfield (5-4) and USF (3-2) along with draws at No. 22 Portland and Pacific, and was a victim of No. 23 Saint Mary's (0-2) and a non-conference OT clash at UC Davis (1-2)
• The 2017 Hornets went 8-9-2 which included an entertaining 3-3 draw with UCI. Sac State lost in the first round of the Big West Tournament. The preseason poll projected the Hornets to finish just inside the tournament field at sixth
• The offense has produced 15 goals, five each from freshman Benji Kikanovic and senior Dominic Scotti, the defense is run behind freshman Oscar Govea, junior Matt Carnefix, and sophomore Tyler Moss, and the goalkeeper position has seen freshman Ryan Curtis go 2-1-0 in three starts, but junior Nick Kubler has played the bulk with 25 saves in seven starts going 0-5-2 in them
• Since joining the Big West in 2012, UCI and SAC are even at 3-3-1 overall and 2-2-0 at Anteater Stadium 

With a win...
• ...it would snap UCI's streak of seven straight seasons where it has lost its Big West opener. The team is 0-6-1 during the streak last winning in 2010 when it opened with a 3-0 victory against UC Riverside
• ...or draw, UCI would snap a brief two-match losing streak at UC Riverside
• ...or loss, UCI would extend a streak of 21 matches since UCI and UCR last tied
• ...it would be the Anteaters' first win against Sac State since the 2014 Big West Tournament
 
Up Next
• UC Irvine enters a tough stretch having to travel to a ranked UC Davis squad on Oct. 10 before coming home with the always competitive matchup with UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, Oct. 13
 
New Normal
The new Big West schedule format comes into affect this week as for the first time since 1986, the each program will play the other just once during the regular season. The top six point totals will earn a spot in the Big West Tournament. The 'Eaters have not been participants in the Big West Tournament since 2015. It also marks the first time the Big West has gone without divisions since 2011. UC Irvine has one the Big West regular season title in each of the last two seasons that featured a one-division format (2010 & 2011)

Rough and Tumble
UC Irvine and Saint Mary's were flagged for 48 fouls in Saturday's match including 21 only to the Anteaters, a season high. Since 2011, it's the ninth instance for UCI with 21 or more fouls in a match. The 48-foul total is the third-highest foul total in a UC Irvine match behind 50 vs. UCSB in 2013 and 55 vs. CSUN in 2015. The 'Eaters were also issued four yellow cards Saturday afternoon giving them seven over the last two matches after picking up just three in the first nine matches of 2018
 
First Touches
• Greg Patenaude matched a career high with five saves Saturday against Saint Mary's.
• Three of UCI's last five matches have featured a first career goal. Michael Orozco was the most recent addition off a set piece at Pacific to record his first career goal and point, and the first true freshman with either as well in 2018
• Jose Soto added his name as a goal scorer for the first time in the win over USF after 27 matches with UCI. The goals for Soto and Orozco were also the first two from defenders this year
• Three Anteaters opened their scoring accounts in the week prior. Senior Daniel Crisostomo waited until his 60th career match to find the back of the net converting his 72nd-minute penalty kick, he added his second career goal Thursday at San Francisco.
• Christian Gutierrez started the scoring at USF with a header in the 34th minute for his first career goal, point, and game-winning goal. He also added his second goal over the weekend opening UCI's account on Sunday
• Fellow third-year Manny Acosta cleaned up with a brilliant strike in the 81st minute for his first career point and goal in the win against Pomona-Pitzer
• Alvaro Quezada continues to lead the Big West in shots with 27 and 2.60 per match, tied with CSUN's Daniel Trejo. The team as a whole continues to lead the Big West with 127 shots and an average of 12.7 per match
• UC Irvine earned 14 corner kicks in the win over Pomona-Pitzer tying a program record that has been set four times prior with the most recent coming in a Big West Tournament match in 2015 at Cal Poly. The squad averages five corners per match good for second in the Big West
• UC Irvine ranks within the top 10 in the nation in assists with 24, still standing second in the Big West (CSUN - 26)
• Two Anteaters were honored in the Courtyard Marriott San Diego Central Aztec Soccer Tournament where it finished 1-1. Ivan Canales and Jose Soto were named to the all-tournament team
 
Yes He Can
Senior Ivan Canales has 19 goals over his career, his next will make him the 12th Anteater with 20 over a career. His 18 assists is already top-ten worthy as he just passed Spencer Thompson and David Szekeres. He's now alongside the likes of Manny Hernandez, Michael Mucino, Irving Garcia, and Miguel Ibarra in the records tied for sixth. Canales has a chance to join 20 Kevin Smith (22 G, 24 A) as the only Anteaters with 20 goals and assists over a career. His goal at San Francisco dipped him into the all-time UCI top 10 now with 56 career points surpassing Pat Lee. Next in his sights are Cameron Iwasa and Michael Mucino both with 58
 
Starting a Trend
Junior Jose Ortiz has posted his two 3-match scoring streaks on the season with his goal at USF. Ortiz has a goal in all five home matches this season, and is responsible for a goal in six of UCI's 11 matches overall. Ortiz is tied atop the conference with his six goals. He also added a game-winner, the second of his career and first since his freshman campaign. He added an assist on Friday giving him 13 points which leads the team and ranks second in the Big West
 
Opening Statements
UC Irvine now stands at 22-9-4 all-time in season openers, 2-3-1 when opening on the road. UCI fell in its home opener Friday, 2-1 to Utah Valley, to snap its streak of 13 straight unbeaten home openers that dated back to 2004.
 
Voter Turnout
UC Irvine was not part of the voting this week, but have earned votes in the United Soccer Coaches three times this season earning a high of 20 votes. Poll results are released every Tuesday. The 'Eaters have not landed in the top 25 since 2015, but do hold a 20-26-6 all-time record against ranked opponents
 
Exhibiting Quality
UC Irvine took to the pitch twice last week for exhibition matches starting at home Thursday defeating Bakersfield, 2-0. Ivan Canales and Axel Adler scored first-half strikes. They finished up Sunday with a trip to UCLA for the first men's soccer match in newly-constructed Wallis Annenberg Stadium. The Bruins, who are receiving votes in the national preseason poll, would take the victory scoring in the 71st minute to defeat UCI, 1-0.

Playing Professionally
• UC Irvine has 11 Anteaters making a mark on various professional circuits
• Two MLS staples continue to be Miguel Ibarra and Brad Evans. Ibarra is in his seventh pro season where he's earned over 150 caps between Minnesota United FC and Leon of LigaMX. In his sixth season with MLS-side MNUFC, he has six goals upping the midfielder's career total to 27. Evans has bounced between Sporting KC and its USL side, Swope Park Rangers, seeing action in four matches total. He's played 226 matches with 28 goals in his 11 pro seasons largely with Seattle Sounders FC and Columbus Crew SC winning an MLS title with each
• The pair also account for all of the national team appearances for UCI alums. Evans took part in 27 World Cup qualifiers, Gold Cup, Confederations Cup, and friendly matches scoring an infamous goal in stoppage time of an WCQ to defeat Jamaica. Ibarra has three caps under his belt, all in U.S. friendlies.
• Six Anteaters reside with USL clubs, most prominently Cam Iwasa as one of the league's leading scorers on Sac Republic FC scoring 27 times over four seasons. Marco Franco has joined with Penn FC while Thomas Janjigian is on the backline for Reno 1868. Mats Bjurman and Giovanni Godoy have teamed up on local side Orange County SC scoring seven goals between them this season. Tarek Morad also joined up with USL side Tampa Bay Rowdies recently after a few years with Louisville City FC
• Others still making waves Enrique Cardenas, playing with Golden State Force FC when he's not coaching at College of the Desert, Lester Hayes III and Amani Walker, each playing with at times with NPSL side Albion SC Pros SD, and Irving Garcia is still extending his career going on sixth overall as a professional and second year now with Guatemalan side, Suchitepequez.
 
2017-18 Highlights
• UCI returned to a .500 campaign in 2017 after consecutive five-win years
• The Anteaters led the conference in scoring in the regular season with 35 goals led by conference-leader Giovanni Godoy's 13. They also put up a Big West-best 41 assists, its most since the 2010 campaign, with Daniel Crisostomo and Mario Ortiz topping the conference with nine each
• UCI took down one of its two ranked opponents in 2017 defeating No. 8 Denver, 1-0, on a neutral site. It also took No. 9 Louisville to the wire on the road as the 'Eaters stand 20-25-6 all-time against ranked foes

Trending Up
UC Irvine's 8-8-3 campaign and fourth place finish in the Big West South in 2017 doesn't jump off the page, but its a move in the right direction after back-to-back five-win seasons in 2015 and 2016. The goals rose with the results with the team scoring 35 goals, up from 20 in 2016 and 23 in 2015. The Anteaters also dropped 41 assists on those goals last season, its most since 2010's total of 42 assists.

Back for More
Here for his second season as the head coach of the Anteaters is Yossi Raz. He made great strides within his first two years as the head of Cal Poly Pomona taking a program that won three matches prior to his arrival, pushed them to a 7-7-3 mark in his first go, and jumped to a 17-1-2 record in his second season leading to a national title appearance by his third year.

What's Missing?
The right foot of Giovanni Godoy is the largest omission from the 2018 Anteaters after the reigning Big West Offensive Player of the Year graduated and is now playing alongside 'Eater alum Mats Bjurman on Orange County SC. His conference-leading 13 goals accounted for 37% of UC Irvine's production including half of the squad's eight game-winning goals.

Senior Step-Up
The Anteater core in 2018 will be strongly represented by senior leadership of Ivan Canales, Daniel Crisostomo, and Luis Leon. Canales returns following a third All-Big West selection, the midfielder centerpiece has a new number and an edge and the attacking leader going forward. Crisostomo is one of the nation's leading returners in assists after dishing out nine as a junior. Over the summer, he continued to add to his resume in the midfield playing for Orange County FC and was named to the National XI for the season of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). Leon has rode a consistent offensive ledger accounting for multiple goals and at least six points in each of his first three years as an Anteater.

Second-Year Sensations
The Anteaters got positive dividends from its new crop of transfers a year ago with a steady hand in the midfield from Victor Falck, and also on the backline, Jose Soto stood above the rest earning an All-Big West selection. Impactful freshmen Alvaro Quezada and Lawrence Yamaguchi fit right in to coach Raz's mentality, and will be prime figures to keep the scoring at a high level for the 'Eaters

Chon Zone
Another hefty absence will be the skillful frame of Mario Ortiz who contribute nine assists a year ago, but another Ortiz, Jose, is primed to join the scoring barrage. He's contributed five goals to this point in his career including three as a sophomore

Keeper's Corner
The healthiest competition on the squad could come between the posts with senior Greg Patenaude and junior Alex Waldron each coming in with an experienced hand. Patenaude finished the 2017 season as the No. 1 guy scoring a pair of wins in the final three matches. Waldron played half of the matches in his first year, and them rolled through a majority of his sophomore campaign atop the depth chart putting together nine wins and five shutouts across the seasons. The two will likely each see time through the exhibition matches.

What does the Future Hold?
The recently-revealed nine newcomers joining the squad in 2018 for coach Raz features some very veteran talent. Three transfers enter the fray with two in line to be big parts of the 2018 plans. Senior back Darren Hamilton has commanded backlines on the junior college and Division I levels, and will provide a huge boost to pair with Soto. Jalani Ambrose has a couple of years experience from Santa Clara skating down the wings and being thrust into a defensive role. In addition to the vets, the 'Eaters bring on six freshmen that could be called upon with an abbreviated roster of 25 players at coach Raz's disposal. The likes of Axel Adler and Ben Reveno who will make their first steps onto an Anteater pitch, and the returns of redshirts Manny Acosta and Christian "GunGun" Gutierrez will also be felt in the formation

Opposing Views
UC Irvine's collective schedule might not be so daunting from first glance, but a lot of postseason experience lays in waiting for the Anteaters with squads like Pacific and San Francisco coming off tourney appearances last year. Others have been successful elsewhere such as UCF projected to win the American Athletic Conference in the preseason, James Madison the reigning Colonial Athletic Association regular season champs, and Brown finish third a year ago in a highly-competitive Ivy League. In addition, five Anteater opponents have earned votes in the United Soccer Coaches preseason rankings which includes Sunday's opponent, UCLA.