FIRST TOUCHES 
A huge week for UCI resulted in six points from one-goal victories against the Big West's leaders entering the week dropping UC Davis at home in a defensive slugfest and going on the road to upset the streaking No. 12 Gauchos in overtime to vault the Anteaters into first in the Big West. UCI will try to defend its spot this week on the road at Fullerton and hosting Cal Poly to ward off a couple rising programs.
 
#4 - Entering Big West play, UCI's early RPI sits at 28 while taking on the #4 toughest schedule. The Anteaters finished 2018 with the 22nd-toughest schedule nationally and an RPI of 23

8 - The Anteaters are unbeaten in their last 7 matches going 4-0-4, the second straight season with an unbeaten streak of 6 or more, and the seventh such streak in program history. UCI has not lost in regulation in 11 matches (6-1-4) falling once in overtime to San Diego

1st - UCI has put up some good numbers in Big West play ranked 1st in shots (61), corners (25), and least shots on goal allowed (9) over four matches. They were also the 1st and only squad to score on UC Davis and UCSB who have each earned shutouts in their other three conference contests

STORYLINES 
The Anteaters stand in first place one point ahead of each UCSB and UC Davis. With the many scenarios that could play out this week, the 'Eaters have a chance to secure a Big West Tournament berth, a first round home match, and possibly a share of the regular season title

Two Anteaters were graced with awards starting with Victor Falck taking home his first Big West Defensive Player of the Week honor scoring vs. UCSB and shutting down both them and UC Davis in wins as he overtakes the team lead in points with nine. Joining him was Oscar Cervantes as Freshman of the Week after his game-winning goal put away No. 12 UCSB in overtime. Cervantes also made it onto the TopDrawerSoccer.com Team of the Week, the first 'Eater to be honored since 2014. The two join Christian Gutierrez who took home an award two weeks ago with his two-goal match in a draw with No. 22 LMU. UCI is on an eight-match unbeaten streak (4-0-4) scoring in every match helping it atop the Big West with 10 points allowing a total of nine shots on goal in four matches.

UC Irvine completed non-conference play with a 3-4-4 record, the only Big West squad with a losing record. The team did go up against the 7th-toughest schedule in the nation with four ranked squads on the docket and two others receiving votes. The Big West Conference finished non-conference play rated the sixth-best in the nation with six programs touting a top-50 toughest schedule

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 and No. 21 according to Top Drawer Soccer's preseason poll. UCI have since fallen out of the voting, but have played the fourth-strongest schedule thus far facing nine opponents with national votes in 15 contests with five ranked opponents on their ledger where they've gone 1-3-1 against

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 forward Kelvin Neumetzler made his collegiate debut Wedesday in the win over UC Davis and came on as a sub again on Saturday. One newcomer, Jorge Hernandez, joined the 'Eaters after signing an NLI and playing in the exhibition matches before signing a pro contract and starting for L.A. Galaxy II since late September

With a... 
...win in either match, UCI would stamp a spot in the Big West Tournament with 13 points
...result, UCI would extend its unbeaten streak which stand at eight (4-0-4), the seventh streak of at least eight games in program history
...draw, the 'Eaters would match their single-season high for draws at six also done by the 2001 and 2008 clubs

CAL STATE FULLERTON TITANS
The  Titans had not been feeling October going 0-5 until a big 2OT win at Sac State Saturday to finally put former Anteater coach George Kuntz at the 200-career win mark. CSF started out impressively going 8-0 before drawing with No. 24 LMU and the long losing streak. The Titans are 9-5-1 with three Big West points, and big reasons are Christian Pinzon (5 G, 7 A) and Oscar Flores (5 G, 4 A) on the attack. Veteran keeper Paul-Andre Guerin has 67 saves to lead the Big West behind his stable of defenders in Torr, Molz, and Salazar

CAL POLY MUSTANGS
Cal Poly is back to .500 at 6-6-1 having to deal with Utah Valley (L, 1-0), San Diego (L, 3-0), Gonzaga (W, 3-1), and LMU (W, 2-1) in non-conference. They started October with three losses, but have picked it up beating CSF and CSUN at home putting them right in the Big West picture. CP was the unsuspecting victim of UCI's title clinching dramatic win in 2018 so they'll be looking for revenge and also their first 2019 road win (0-4-1). Their shining star, Emmanuel Perez (9 G, 3 A), carries the load helped by Angel De Leon (3 G, 2 A) and Diego Alonso (1 G, 4 A). Carlos Arce-Hurtado has turned it around in net, and his capable defense in front of him will make for a strong matchup Saturday