Women?s Soccer vs UCLA NCAA Championship

Best Of 2023: Top Moments Of The Year

| By: Stacey Shackleford
As 2023 comes to a close, UC Irvine has several top moments to reflect on, including a historic fall season. 
 
In a span of 15 days, UC Irvine won three Big West Championship titles and had three teams make NCAA appearances, highlighted by women's soccer's Sweet 16 run and men's water polo's return to the NCAAs for the first time in 30 years. 
 
In total, UCI claimed Big West regular season titles in men's basketball, women's basketball, women's water polo, men's tennis and men's water polo, while capturing Big West Championship titles by women's water polo, women's soccer, men's soccer and men's water polo. 

Whether it was a team or individual performance, here's a look back at some of the success the Anteaters had in 2023: 
 
Women's Soccer Women's soccer wrapped up a three-peat of Big West Championships, taking the title as the No. 5-seed with wins over Long Beach State, Cal State Fullerton and Cal Poly. Sophomore Emille Castagna was crowned MVP. UCI followed that up with another epic first round upset in the NCAA Championships, toppling No. 1-seed UCLA, 1-0. UCI was down a player for the final 15:31, but the defense held strong and Alyssa Moore deposited the game-winner in the 87th-minute. The Anteaters weren't done, topping No. 8-seeded Gonzaga, 2-1, to reach the Sweet Sixteen for a second straight year. UCI was ranked #20 in the final United Soccer Coaches rankings, Glo Hinojosa and Alyssa Moore All-Region honorees after making their mark once again in the post season. 
 
 
Men's Water Polo Men's water polo put together a historic season with their 18-10 overall record that culminated in an NCAA appearance. In a pivotal game, the Anteaters beat league-leading and previously undefeated in league play, UC Davis, in a thrilling 13-12 overtime victory. Jack Stevens scored the game winner off a spinning backhanded move with 1:09 left on the clock in the final extra period. The Anteaters went on to capture the regular season title with a 4-1 record then win the first-ever Big West Championship in two more exciting victories against UC Davis in the semifinals, 11-10 and UC Santa Barbara, 11-9 in the finale. UCI earned the automatic bid to the NCAA Championship, their first appearance since 1993 and 22nd all-time. UC Irvine concluded their season ranked sixth in the national polls, the highest program finish since 2016.  


 
Men's Soccer UC Irvine claimed its fifth Big West Championship and first under head coach Yossi Raz on the way to their seventh trip to the NCAA Tournament.  The Anteaters scored the final two goals against UC Santa Barbara in the Big West semifinal, the last in the 79th minute by Atiye punched it in.  The defense held the line and did not allow another shot for the final 10 minutes to secure the win and advance to the finals where they beat UC Davis 8-7 in a dramatic penalty shootout.   In the sudden death rounds, Rafael Espinoza, Nolan DiCenzo, Josh Kentworthy and Kellan Barry were all true to extend the shootout. In the ninth round, goalkeeper Luke Pruter came through with his second save on a shot to seal the win. Seven Anteaters earned All-Big West accolades including Ricardo Ibarra and Mathias Winum on the first team. 
 
 
Women's Basketball UC Irvine women's basketball closed out conference play with seven-straight wins and clinched the first Big West regular-season title in program history with a 59-48 victory at Cal State Bakersfield on March 4. The Anteaters earned an automatic bid to the WNIT for the second year in a row and secured their first national postseason tournament win by taking down San Diego State, 55-45, in the first round. UCI set school records in both overall (25) and conference (16) victories. Hunter Hernandez, Nikki Tom, Nevaeh Parkinson, Déja Lee and Diaba Konate earned All-Big West recognition. Parkinson was also named the Big West's Best Sixth Player. 
 

Men's Basketball Men's basketball captured its eighth Big West regular season title in the last 10 years and the sixth under head coach Russell Turner. The Anteaters ended the season 23-12 overall, the program's eighth 20-win season under Turner. Guard Pierre Crockrell II landed a spot on the All-Big West Honorable Mention squad after tallying 178 assists which stands at fourth all-time in a single season in program history. The senior finished the 2022-23 season ranked 22nd nationally in total assists, 36th in assist-turnover ratio (2.47), and 40th in assists per game (5.1).  



Women's Water Polo Women's water polo ended the regular season with a perfect 7-0 record before taking home the Big West Championship with a 10-9 overtime thriller against Hawai'i. Goalie Erin Tharp was named the 2023 Big West Women's Water Polo Championship Most Valuable Player with her 14 saves to earn the win for the Anteaters. After the championship victory, UCI moved up to No. 3 in the national rankings, tying the highest ranking in program history. The Anteaters made their seventh NCAA appearance, falling just short against UCLA, 14-12. Head coach Dan Klatt's squad ended the year with a 20-7 overall record, the program's ninth 20-win season. The Anteaters ended the year ranked fourth overall, the highest final national position in program history. Nioka Thomas was named second team All-America, while Tharp and Jessica Lynch earned All-America honorable mention accolades. 
 

Men's Tennis 
UC Irvine men's tennis went 5-1 in conference play to clinch a share of their first Big West regular-season title since 2015. As the No. 2 seed at the Big West Championships, the Anteaters defeated No. 3 UC Davis to advance to the final for the second year in a row. Enrique Luque Rico and Noah Zamora led the way as first-team All-Big West selections in singles. Brandon Park earned second-team honors, while Rithvik Krishna received an honorable mention nod. Park/Zamora were also a first-team all-conference doubles pair.
 
 
Outdoor Track & Field UC Irvine outdoor track & field had three Big West individual champions and four NCAA Regional qualifiers in 2023. Jolie Robinson, who joined the Anteaters in January as a mid-year transfer from Saddleback College, started the meet with a first-place finish in the heptathlon. She went on to score in the javelin and long jump, earning both Big West Field Athlete of the Meet and Field Athlete of the Year honors. Sameen Andar also won the women's 10,000-meter title, while Liam Miksic became UCI's first Big West champion in the men's javelin. Andar, Miksic, Evelin Meza (10K) and Reyna Johnson (Long Jump) advanced to the NCAA West Preliminary meet.
 
 
 


Men's Volleyball Perennial powerhouse men's volleyball remained in the national spotlight, ending the year ranked No. 5. The Anteaters swept No. 4 Long Beach State, 3-0 to advance to the Big West Championship title match behind Hilir Henno's career-high tying 22 kills, while hitting .471 (22-6-34). Henno earned first team AVCA All-America honors after a dominating year at the service line. He ended the year with 87 aces, a new school record and the second most in the NCAA all-time for a single season. The first team All-Big West selection led the nation with a .880 ace average.
 


Baseball The baseball team had a post-season worthy season after posting a 37-18 overall record. The Anteaters went 10-2 vs. Power 5 opponents, including 8-1 vs. Pac-12 and 4-3 vs. NCAA Tournament teams. The Anteaters finished No. 1 in college baseball with the best road winning percentage at 19-6. UCI led the nation in sacrifice flies with 52 and set program records for runs (445), walks (304) and home runs (53). Anthony Martinez was the Big West batting champ at .394, adding a three-game and four-game homerun streak during the year. The true freshman led UCI in hits with 91 and was the seventh Anteater to reach 60 RBI in a season. He was rewarded with All-American and All-West Region nods in addition to UCI's second Big West Freshman Field Player of the Year. Caden Kendle secured All-West Region accolades after being named Big West Field Player of the Year. 
 
 
Women's Indoor Track & Field 
UC Irvine women's indoor track & field had three podium finishes at the 2023 MPSF Championships. Sameen Andar claimed runner-up honors in the 3,000-meter with a school-record 9:39.12. Andar also took third in the 5,000m with a program-best 16:37.63. Deandra Tyler added a third-place finish in the shot put at the conference championships.
 

Stay tuned for more exciting moments in the days to come.
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