Men's Soccer This Week

(6-11-2, 5-3-1) [3] UC Irvine Anteaters
at [2] UC Santa Barbara Gauchos (9-2-5, 4-1-4)
ESPN+ | Live Stats
Big West Championship Semifinal | Saturday, November 5 - 7:00 PM
All-time series: UCSB leads, 34-18-7 | 4-1 in BWT (L in 2021 Final) | 2022: T, 2-2
 
Big West Final
ESPN+
Team advancing plays CSUN/UCR winner | Saturday, November 12 - 7:00 PM
UCI All-time: 11 berths in 14 tournaments | 11-4-3 record | Reached 2021 Final
 

 

11th - In this the 14th Big West Championship, UCI is appearing for the 11th time, 3rd as a No. 3 seed, searching for its 5th title
9th - UCI's non-conference strength of schedule was the 9th-toughest nationally including four teams with national votes
216:54 - The Anteaters have two of their three shutouts in the last two matches entering Saturday with a 216:54 shutout streak
 #1 - Coach Raz's 2019 recruiting class was ranked #1 in the nation with six on the 2021 roster and two now playing pro
4 - The 'Eaters have won the tourney 4 times, but none since 2013 losing in 2021 (at UCSB) and in PKs in 2014 (vs. CSF)
6th - UCI and UCSB meet for the 6th time in the tournament with UCSB winning last year after UCI won the first four times
 
· The Anteaters secured their second-ever First Round win Wednesday, 2-0 over Sac State at home. Ashish Chattha scored in the 15th minute, Diego Otoya volleyed home a cross in the 71st, and Luke Pruter saved three to earn his second straight shutout, fifth straight home win, and stay unbeaten in their last five overall (4-0-1)
· UCI's finished its regular season with a berth-clinching draw vs. UCSB followed by a 1-0 win at UC San Diego. Defender Nolan DiCenzo slid home a rebound off a set piece in the 35th minute and his defense also pitched a shutout to help him take  home the team's third and his first Big West Freshman of the Week award joining the pair earned by Agaton Pourshahidi
· The 'Eaters bring four players into their third tournament in their careers. Counting Wednesday's win, Oscar Cervantes has 301 minutes over his four matches to lead the returners followed by Ricardo Ibarra with 299, Kwabena Boateng at 200, and Eddy Berumen with 197 minutes over three matches. Eight others return after registering minutes in 2021 including goal scorer Francesco Montanile.
· Robert Mejia brings tournament experience with seven matches played over three tournaments at UC Davis including a title in 2019. Mejia scored twice in a win over CSU Bakersfield and added an assist in the 2019 title match win over UCSB.
· UCI and UCSB played just last week with a see-saw battle in Anteater Stadium ending in a 2-2 draw. UCI equalized twice in the second half on goals from Ashish Chattha in the 52nd minute and Mario Anaya in the 64th. The 'Eaters and Gauchos have been five times in the Big West Tournament with UCSB finally winning last year, 4-0, in the final. The sides have met once in the semis with the Anteaters posting a comeback, 3-2, win in 2014 on the backs of goals from Matthew Tilley, Cameron Iwasa, and an 82nd-minute winner from Dennis Martinez.
· The team that advances will head play in the final next Saturday. UC Riverside claimed the regular season crown and top-seed, and with a win over CSUN will host the final. Should CSUN advance, the UCI-UCSB winner will host the Matadors. One new rule is that overtime returns with two 10-minute periods, but there will be no golden goal. Teams must play all 20 minutes with a shootout if they remain even.
· UC Irvine makes its 11th trip in this the 14th Big West Championship. UCI has four titles and reached the final on six occasions, but has not won it all since 2013. Overall, the 'Eaters are 11-4-3 in tournament matches and 4-2 in road matches, but in Saturday's location, UCSB, the 'Eaters have three wins in four trips. UCI is looking to claim its fifth Big West title and reach its seventh NCAA Tournament.