COUNTER ATTACKS
10.5 - UC Irvine's disciplined approach has led to 10.5 fouls committed per match which is the least in the Big West
123 - 'Eater field players have played the last 123 minutes in goal - Abraham Brown at UCR and Braden Ferreira's start vs. UCSB

THROW-INS
3 - UCI has had 3 different goalkeepers earn a win this season - Alex Shields with 2, walk-on Paul Jing, and Luke Pruter at UC Davis
5 - UC Irvine has had 5 goalkeepers including walk-on Paul Jing and two field players with zero previous GK experience

SET PIECES
#1 - Mario Anaya remains from coach Raz's #1-ranked recruiting class of 2019 with 7 of those class members gone on to play pro
1st - UC Irvine was picked 1st in the Preseason Big West Coaches' Poll with All-Big West honorees Winum, Montanile, and Pruter

 
· UC Irvine had a unique goalkeeping week with walk-on Paul Jing starting at UC Riverside, but drawing a red card in the 57th minute. Defender Abraham Brown entered playing the final 32 minutes saving two shots before ultimately allowing an 89th-minute winner. Redshirt freshman Braden Ferreria was called into starting duty Saturday vs. No. 23 UC Santa Barbara and played a full 90 saving six shots and allowing one goal in a 1-0 defeat
Þ  Luke Pruter came into the year as the starter and was injured after the first match. He returned to make five saves in two matches and securing a shutout victory at UC Davis before another injury last week
Þ  Alex Shields filled in admirably for six matches winning twice, stopping four shots a match on average including a high of eight, facing two ranked squads, and all in his first collegiate minutes in his third season. His season ended on September 21 when he tore his meniscus in the 17th minute vs. Utah Tech, but played the full 90 minutes for the win with a pair of saves.
Þ  Paul Jing became an Anteater legend as the keeper in a 2-0 win over San Diego State. Jing was a student and player on the intramural squad until the program signed him September 2nd. After injuries now to Pruter and Shields, he got the start and got the team the win and a shutout. He added two big-time saves, and was called back into duty last Wednesday making three saves of shutout action before his red card ejection
Þ  A fourth Anteater keeper, Cody Aung, was ready to start his senior year before the aspiring aerospace engineer was offered a full-time job with the company he was interning for over the summer. He played one match winning at CSUN in 2022 in a match Pruter was unable to suit up due to an illness
Þ  UC Irvine dipped into the field player pool with substitute and defender Abraham Brown Wednesday and midfielder Braden Ferreira starting Saturday vs. #23 UCSB. The duo stopped eight shots in  a pair of 1-0 defeats with neither playing any goalkeeper minutes at any level above the age of eight
· The Anteaters finished non-conference play with an overall record of 3-4-1 with three losses coming to ranked teams. UCI's non-conference schedule ranks as the 31st-toughest in the nation and the overall schedule is the 39th-toughest. The 'Eaters sit with an RPI of 97, fourth in the Big West (UCSB - 25, CSF - 45, UCD - 94).

Wednesday vs. the Roadrunners
· The first place Roadrunners come to Anteater Stadium Wednesday. At 5-2-4, CSUB has picked up wins over Utah Tech and No. 18 Portland and come in unbeaten in the last six (3-0-3) with draws against Fullerton and UCSB and eight points out of 12 in Big West play. Connor Mautino's eight goals are second in the conference, and his 1.80 shots on goal per match leads the Big West as does CSUB's deadly accuracy of 47.4% of SOG
· UC Irvine and Cal State Bakersfield have a brief history with UCI taking seven of nine all-time matchups, and since CSUB went Division I the 'Eaters have won all three contests in Anteater Stadium
· The 2023 matchup in Bakersfield was an elementary school field trip day played at 11:00 a.m. midweek, and the 'Runners came through with a 2-0 victory with goals by returners Adrian Jogerst and an insurance penalty kick in the 86th minute by Connor Mautino

Saturday at the Matadors
· UC Irvine and CSUN bring back its only little rivalry as head coach Yossi Raz takes on his alma mater and former head coach. He is 2-6 against them since becoming head coach while CSUN leads the all-time matchup, 28-23-6
· The 2023 matchup was one UCI would like to forget playing up a man from the 43rd minute on, but could not find a goal, and lost on a coast-to-coast Jamar Ricketts run to put CSUN up, 1-0, in the 89th minute
· The Matadors are just 2-5-5 with two points through four Big West matches, but have had bright spots with a win at No. 11 LMU, draw with No. 18 James Madison, and one-goal losses to Cal and Seattle U. They've held serve at home in Big West drawing with UC Riverside and UC Davis heading into Saturday's contest. CSUN does earn a lot of corners with six per match, and lead the conference with 14.17 shots per game dispersing offense around with five multiple-goal scorers this year led by Michael Blevins and Jorge Solorzano with three each