FIRST TOUCHES 
The Anteaters began their upward climb with a tough road draw at UCLA followed by a resounding home victory over Pacific last week. The final non-conference clash highlights this week taking on a very good LMU squad Thursday night in their place
 

#12 - Entering the final non-conference match, UCI's early RPI sits at 48 while taking on the #12 toughest schedule thus far. The Anteaters finished 2018 with the 22nd-toughest schedule nationally and an RPI of 23

3 - In each of the last 3 matches, UCI's attack has scored a goal assisted by Eder Oliva who is now tied atop the team in points with fellow newcomer Roberto Molina

10 - The Anteaters got their first 10 goals of the season from different players. For six of them, it was the first goal of their collegiate career, and Victor Falck and Oscar Cervantes got there's as game-winning goals

 
STORYLINES 
The offense busted out for four goals in an unbeaten week drawing UCLA for the first time and exacting revenge on Pacific. Oscar Cervantes scored his first career goal, the game-winner, in his first career start in spectacular fashion.
UCI's first 10 goals of the season were scored by 10 different players. Roberto Molina's free kick and Victor Falck's penalty kick were each their second of the season to complete the 3-0 Sunday win

The Anteater defense showed out holding the prolific UCLA offense one goal in the draw and earned its first shutout of the season Sunday  against Pacific, the first for Ford Parker as an Anteater as he saved five shots on the week
The 'Eaters star freshman Kwabena Boateng missed three matches as he was training with the U.S. under-20 National Team in Slovenia in early September. Boateng played in both matches as the U.S. defeated the Zagreb Football Federation and UAE U-23s in friendlies

UC Irvine began the season ranked at No. 25 in the United Soccer Coaches poll. They finished 2018 just outside the top 25. UC Irvine was also slotted No. 21 according to Top Drawer Soccer's preseason poll. UCI fell out of the voting completely, but have played the fifth-strongest schedule thus far facing six opponents with national votes in eight contests with three opponents entering the matches ranked in the top 10

The Anteaters bring in a talented class of 14 newcomers rated as the top recruiting class in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer. Five of the newcomers are transfers from programs such as New Mexico, San Francisco, Coastal Carolina, and Portland, while another four Anteaters enter the mix after redshirting in their first year with the program in 2018. Second-year freshman Jordan Martinez made his first collegiate appearance on Sunday saving five shots in the draw with Gonzaga

The 'Eaters completed their coaching staff in the early stages of the season adding assistant and Anteater soccer alum Aaron Colacion, and volunteer/goalkeeper coach Yonha Adrabi. The coaching openings came about when volunteer assistant Brian Lanoye took an assistant job at Pacific, UCI's Sunday opponent, to join coach Raz's former assistant, Adam Reeves, now the head coach there. Anteater assistant Matt O'Sullivan then filled the opening at Cal Poly Pomona created by Reeves' departure

With a win or draw... 
...Thursday, it would mark four straight without a loss for the 'Eaters who have drawn with Gonzaga and UCLA and beaten Pacific
...Thursday, UCI would extend its streak to three straight unbeaten (2-0-0) against LMU and give them five wins in the last six meetings

LOYOLA MARYMOUNT LIONS
No. 22 LMU has shot out of the gate to a 5-2-2 mark and an RPI in the top 10 which is a nice change to the program that's gone 11-24-3 over the last two seasons. Thursday's match will mark the last of seven straight matches against Big West opponents picking up home wins against Sac State and UC Davis before going on the road to draw at UCR and CSF, win at CSUN, and fall in overtime at Cal Poly. LMU's other loss came to No. 16 Virginia Tech, and Thursday's match will be a return home after it started 2019 with five straight home contests. LMU and the 'Eaters have met 27 times with a 17-9-1 advantage to UC Irvine who have won the last two and five of the last six in the series.

The wealth has been spread around with nine different goal scorers led by two from juniors Francis Avoce and Duhaney Williams and sophomore CJ Neville. Nine Lions have contributed with an assist as well making everyone on the pitch a threat to take a chance. Jacob Jackson has taken over in net since the opener going six straight matches without a goal allowed before the draw and loss at GCU and CSF.

The Lions and 'Eaters commit around the same number of fouls and cards per match, but LMU has drawn three reds in 2019