Final Non-Conference Test Goes Through No. 10 Saint Mary's

Saturday, September 29

Moraga, CA

1:00 PM

UC Irvine

Saint Mary's

Final Non-Conference Test Goes Through No. 10 Saint Mary's

September 25, 2018 | Men's Soccer

Game Notes

By: Alex Croteau

The Anteaters have one last non-conference opponent to battle before Big West play becomes the focus, and it's a buzzsaw in Saint Mary's ranked 10th in the nation with a perfect 9-0-0 record

Game Notes

UC Irvine Anteaters at #10 Saint Mary's Gaels
Saturday, Sep. 29, 2018 - 1:00 PM
Saint Mary's Stadium - Moraga, Calif.
Live Stats | Video

Storylines
• UC Irvine has taken the conference lead in scoring with 20 goals, 2.0 per match, and multiple goals in four straight matches
• UCI had two first-time goal scorers as senior Jose Soto started the weekend with a goal off a corner kick, and freshman Michael Orozco whipped in a set piece Sunday in the 89th minute to bookend the matches
• Ivan Canales scored his 19th goal of his career on Thursday 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 Anteaters have played the second-most minutes in the nation (938) trailing USD at 958, and Greg Patenaude is also second with 893 of the minutes behind only Big West counterpart Paul-Andre Guerin from Cal State Fullerton at 929
• 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 Saint Mary's
• The Gaels are perfect with a 9-0-0 record, 1 of 2 teams in the NCAA that can boast that (Wake Forest, 8-0-0), and most of it has come at the Big West's expense winning its last five matches against Cal Poly, Sac State, UC Riverside, UCSB, and UC Davis. Saint Mary's will play at New Mexico on Wednesday prior hosting the Anteaters
• Saint Mary's ran middle of the road in 2017 going 6-6-5 overall with a 3-2-2 mark in West Coast Conference play. The preseason poll projected the Gaels to finish third with junior Jake Rudel as part of the All-WCC Preseason team
• The Gaels have outscored its opponents 27-4 behind the scoring horses of Rudel (7 G, 1 A) and fellow junior Andres Engebretsen (6 G, 3 A), five other Gaels have at least five points including three goals and three assists each from midfielders Jakub Svehlik and Stephen Dougherty, the backline of Filippo Zattarin, Jeremiah Michael, James Person, and Valentin Sponer have formed a formidable unit, and behind them is junior keeper Remi Prieur whose stopped 30 shots in 824 minutes
• The last time UCI and Saint Mary's met was actually in postseason play when UC Irvine hosted the Gaels in a first round matchup back in 2011. The Gaels came back for the 2-1 win in 2OT to end the Anteaters' season

With a win...
• ...or draw, UCI will stop a brief two-match losing streak it has to the Gaels dating back to 2009. It would also extended a brief unbeaten streak it holds at Moraga where it is 1-0-1 in its last two matches which came in 2008 and 2001
• ...UC Irvine would improve to 21-25-6 all-time against ranked squads
• ...it would be UC Irvine's second straight win over a ranked team after defeating No. 8 Denver, 1-0, last September

Up Next
• UC Irvine begins Big West play as the calendar rolls over to October with a new format debuting where UCI will play each conference team once in a seven-game Big West season

Keeping the Faith
UC Irvine's defense was tested over the weekend allowing five goals to USF and Pacific after giving up just five in eight matches leading up to it. Pacific scored four times in the first half on Sunday for the only four first half goals allowed by the 'Eaters all season. Greg Patenaude continues to grade out near the top of the Big West with the fourth-best goals-against-average (1.01) and his four shutouts are tied for the Big West lead all while playing the second-most minutes in the country (893)

Cool Customers
Yes the 'Eaters do have a red card this season, but in terms of yellow cards, the 'Eaters had accrued just two which was the least in the nation prior to the weekend. UCI is now up to six, still among the 15-least in the nation, and the 12.3 fouls committed per match is the last in the Big West Conference. UCI has even earned a penalty kick which it converted and have done so six straight times dating back to 2015

Leaving A Mark
UC Irvine may have a chance to put the first blemish on Saint Mary's perfect season as it enters the week at 9-0-0. The Gaels have slowly started to climb the United Soccer Coaches rankings standing at No. 10 this week. It's the first ranked opponent for the 'Eaters in 2018 after going 1-1-0 against them in 2017. All-time, UCI is 20-25-6 against ranked programs and 8-15-3 against Top 10 opponents. Against schools ranked No. 10, this will mark UCI's third such meeting having drawn with UC Davis, 0-0, in 2008, and falling to Providence, 0-1, in the 2014 NCAA Third Round matchup

First Touches
• Three of UCI's last four matches have featured a first career goal. Michael Orozco was the most recent addition off a set piece on Sunday 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 Thursday's win after 27 matches with UCI. The goals for Soto and Orozco were also the first two from defenders this year
• Last week, three Anteaters opened their scoring accounts. 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 Friday 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 26 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
• 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 added another goal over the weekend giving him 19 over his career. He is up to 19 career goals, 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 posted his second 3-match scoring streak 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 last eight 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 earned four votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll last week, a dropoff from the 20 votes the week prior and 18 in the previous poll. Poll results are released every Tuesday. The 'Eaters have not landed in the top 25 since 2015, but do hold a 20-25-6 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.