THROW-INS
4-2 - The Anteaters are 4-2 vs. UC Santa Barbara all-time in the postseason including 2-0 in Anteater Stadium
7 - 7 Anteaters earned All-Big West awards led by defenders Mathias Winum and Ricardo Ibarra on the First Team
1,000+ - UCI has had three crowds of 1,000+ fans this year including its second-largest in program history of 1,927 vs. UCR 9/27
15th - UCI beat a ranked Cal State Fullerton, the first ranked win since 2019, and the 15th win ever against a top-13 program
3-0-1 - UCI began the year 3-0-1 unbeaten in their first four, the program's best start under head coach Yossi Raz
#1 - Coach Raz's 2019 recruiting class was ranked #1 in the nation with four on the 2023 roster and two now playing pro
 
· UC Irvine's big Saturday win boosted them to second place in the Big West on 16 points. The 'Eaters earn a first-round bye in the Big West Championship, the fourth time in program history with UCI going 1-0-2 in previous semifinals following a bye and advancing to the final twice
· Ricardo Ibarra broke through for his first goals since 2021 with a brace Saturday. Part of it was his first career game-winning goal in his 76th career match and 60th start. In the match, he also surpassed 5,000 career minutes in which he's also totaled nine career assists and 17 points.
· Luke Pruter is approaching the Anteater top 10 in saves now with 136 for his career. He's five shy of Scott Zinser's 141 in 10th after surpassing Damon Ellis for 11th on Saturday. Pruter finished with the most shutouts in the Big West, seven, and while allowed just six goals in Big West matches to lead the conference and one or fewer goals allowed in 15 matches
· The Anteaters attack has come on of late with seven of their 17 goals this season during their three-match win streak. The Anteaters have won eight games and had eight different players notch game-winners including an own goal. The skill is evident throughout their game with whistled for just 201 fouls, a full foul per game less than any other squad with them in the Big West Championship field
· Head Coach Yossi Raz traditionally has his team clicking entering the Big West Championship. In the final four matches before the five postseason berths the team has had under coach Raz, the Anteaters have a combined record of 14-4-2.

All-Big West Awards
· UC Irvine represented with seven 'Eaters claiming All-Big West honors. Ricardo Ibarra earned his third honor on the First Team along with fellow defender, Mathias Winum. Luke Pruter and Mario Anaya were also first-timers on the Second Team with Oscar Cervantes as a defensive trio. Two freshmen scored All-Freshmen Team love in Brady Treinen and Mauricio Gutierrez.

Saturday Big West Semifinal - 6:00 PM
· UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine match up for the seventh time in the Big West Championship. The Gauchos have ended UCI's season two years in a row, but the Anteaters get them on their turf this time around and hold a 4-2 record against them in the postseason, 2-0 at Anteater Stadium. The regular season matchup was an uncharacteristic 0-0 draw up at Santa Barbara.
· The Gauchos play fast in furious scoring 44 goals in 19 matches while picking up 45 cautions like they did Wednesday coming back with three second-half goals to beat UCR, 3-2, in a match that featured 10 cautions. In conference play, they were held to 10 goals in nine matches led by Alexis Ledoux and Nicolas Willumsen goals making them the fourth and fifth Gauchos with four or more goals this year

Big West Championship
· UC Irvine is back in the Big West Championship for a fifth straight season and the 12th appearance in 15 tournaments. The 'Eaters last made the final in 2021 and are searching for their first title since 2013. Should UCI advance past Saturday, they could potentially host the Final if UC Davis could take down top-seed Cal State Fullerton.