Thursday, October 17
Irvine, Calif.
6:00 PM
UC Irvine
vs
Cal State Fullerton
Photo by: Jacob Thompson
Season's Home Stretch Begins vs. Cal State Fullerton, at UC Davis
October 15, 2024 | Women's Soccer
COUNTER ATTACKS
57 -Β UC Irvine's defense tops the Big West allowing 57 shots on goal this season with 25 allowed in their six Big West contests
3,812 -Β Anteater freshmen have amassed 3,812 minutes this season with 36 starts between 7 players to see minutes
Β
THROW-INS
70 -Β Desiree Mendoza's next start will be her 70th, the 19th 'Eater to reach 70 joining Kiera Smeenge who hit 70 this year
2010 -Β UCI's draw with Hawai'i ended their perfect Big West run - 2010 UCI remains the only perfect Big West season
SET PIECES
1st -Β UCI became the 2nd team to beat a 1-seed in the first round in 2023, but is now the 1st to also reach the Sweet Sixteen
7 -Β UCI joins UNC, Florida State, Penn State, Pittsburgh, BYU, and Memphis as the 7 programs to reach the last 2 Sweet 16s
Β
Β·Β The Anteaters earned one point from two matches last week giving them a total of eight in six matches of Big West play. UCI sits even with two other programs in fifth place on eight points. Five more matchdays remain and four UC Irvine matches ahead.
Β·Β Ashley Naylor notched her third shutout of the season, all in Big West play, and a fourth shutout overall for the team. The Anteaters as a team allow right around 10 shots per match and just 57 shots on goal this season with 25 of those in their six Big West matches
Β·Β Anteater freshmen have been called upon to play 3,812 minutes through 14 matches, and nearly 800 minutes played last week alone. Starting lineups have seen freshmen on 36 occasions spread out among the seven different 'Eaters including three freshmen playing full 90s in Sunday's shutout against Hawai'i - Ivy Williams, Kori Pickelle, and Hailey Clingan
Β·Β UC Irvine has been hit by injuries to key veteran players. Senior defender Suus de Bakker has been out since August with a leg injury, and midfielder Aislynn Crowder was lost to a leg injury at Cal Poly. Fifth-year Kiera Smeenge was injured early in Thursday's match and missed Sunday's match, the first for her in 26 matches
Β·Β Anteater milestones continue to fall in 2024:
ÞΒ Four Anteaters have eclipsed 70 career matches as an Anteater this season. Smeenge hit 70 career starts at UCSD becoming the 18th Anteater to reach that mark.
ÞΒ Overall, 104 'Eaters all-time have played 50 matches for UCI with Emilie Castagna, Aislynn Crowder, and Mihaela Perez joining that club in the 2024 season
ÞΒ Lawson Willis' has eclipsed 80 collegiate matches and surpassed 5,000 career minutes. Six 'Eaters now have over 3,000 minutes with the program, and Smeenge should hit 6,000 in her next match
Thursday vs. the Titans
Β·Β UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton have been the class of the Big West in recent years and match up for the 38th time on Thursday. CSF leads all-time, 17-3-7, but in Anteater Stadium since coach Juniper arrived UCI is 4-2-2 on their home turf.
Β·Β In 2023, the Titans took the regular season bout, 2-0, in Fullerton, but UCI returned in the Big West Semifinal ending the Titans' season, 1-0, thanks to an Erin Covey goal in the 49th minute
Β·Β The Titans had a bumpy road that included a winless streak of nine matches and five times shutout in there. They've regained some momentum going 2-1-1 in the last four and sitting at 2-2-2 in Big West play alongside UCI. Kaylee Noble (5 G, 2 A) heads the charge on an attack that averages over 13 shots per match and leads the Big West in corners while Mia Ranson (1.10 GAA, .822 Save %) is back in net and returning to Anteater Stadium is former 'Eater and twin sister to Mihaela Perez, Jenae
Sunday at the Aggies
Β·Β UC Irvine and UC Davis play for the 29th time as the Aggies took over the series lead last year, 12-11-5. The series is even in matches at UC Davis with five wins for each program and four draws
Β·Β The 2023 match went to UC Davis, 1-0, in the regular season finale in Anteater Stadium. A 61st-minute goal propelled the Aggies, but UC Irvine still managed to make the postseason field eventually winning it all
Β·Β The Aggies were a non-conference power going 7-2 that included a loss to No. 10 Santa Clara and win over LSU. They've returned to Earth in Big West play losing to CSUB and at Hawai'i, but picking up wins vs. Fullerton and LBSU, and most recently drew with UC San Diego needing 12 saves in the effort. UCD leads the Big West with over two goals a game powered by Genavieve Fontes (9 G, 2 A) and Sam Tristan (8 G, 3 A), last year's goal scorer. Caeley Goldstein in net is up to 64 saves playing every minute between the posts
57 -Β UC Irvine's defense tops the Big West allowing 57 shots on goal this season with 25 allowed in their six Big West contests
3,812 -Β Anteater freshmen have amassed 3,812 minutes this season with 36 starts between 7 players to see minutes
Β
THROW-INS
70 -Β Desiree Mendoza's next start will be her 70th, the 19th 'Eater to reach 70 joining Kiera Smeenge who hit 70 this year
2010 -Β UCI's draw with Hawai'i ended their perfect Big West run - 2010 UCI remains the only perfect Big West season
SET PIECES
1st -Β UCI became the 2nd team to beat a 1-seed in the first round in 2023, but is now the 1st to also reach the Sweet Sixteen
7 -Β UCI joins UNC, Florida State, Penn State, Pittsburgh, BYU, and Memphis as the 7 programs to reach the last 2 Sweet 16s
Β
Β·Β The Anteaters earned one point from two matches last week giving them a total of eight in six matches of Big West play. UCI sits even with two other programs in fifth place on eight points. Five more matchdays remain and four UC Irvine matches ahead.
Β·Β Ashley Naylor notched her third shutout of the season, all in Big West play, and a fourth shutout overall for the team. The Anteaters as a team allow right around 10 shots per match and just 57 shots on goal this season with 25 of those in their six Big West matches
Β·Β Anteater freshmen have been called upon to play 3,812 minutes through 14 matches, and nearly 800 minutes played last week alone. Starting lineups have seen freshmen on 36 occasions spread out among the seven different 'Eaters including three freshmen playing full 90s in Sunday's shutout against Hawai'i - Ivy Williams, Kori Pickelle, and Hailey Clingan
Β·Β UC Irvine has been hit by injuries to key veteran players. Senior defender Suus de Bakker has been out since August with a leg injury, and midfielder Aislynn Crowder was lost to a leg injury at Cal Poly. Fifth-year Kiera Smeenge was injured early in Thursday's match and missed Sunday's match, the first for her in 26 matches
Β·Β Anteater milestones continue to fall in 2024:
ÞΒ Four Anteaters have eclipsed 70 career matches as an Anteater this season. Smeenge hit 70 career starts at UCSD becoming the 18th Anteater to reach that mark.
ÞΒ Overall, 104 'Eaters all-time have played 50 matches for UCI with Emilie Castagna, Aislynn Crowder, and Mihaela Perez joining that club in the 2024 season
ÞΒ Lawson Willis' has eclipsed 80 collegiate matches and surpassed 5,000 career minutes. Six 'Eaters now have over 3,000 minutes with the program, and Smeenge should hit 6,000 in her next match
Thursday vs. the Titans
Β·Β UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton have been the class of the Big West in recent years and match up for the 38th time on Thursday. CSF leads all-time, 17-3-7, but in Anteater Stadium since coach Juniper arrived UCI is 4-2-2 on their home turf.
Β·Β In 2023, the Titans took the regular season bout, 2-0, in Fullerton, but UCI returned in the Big West Semifinal ending the Titans' season, 1-0, thanks to an Erin Covey goal in the 49th minute
Β·Β The Titans had a bumpy road that included a winless streak of nine matches and five times shutout in there. They've regained some momentum going 2-1-1 in the last four and sitting at 2-2-2 in Big West play alongside UCI. Kaylee Noble (5 G, 2 A) heads the charge on an attack that averages over 13 shots per match and leads the Big West in corners while Mia Ranson (1.10 GAA, .822 Save %) is back in net and returning to Anteater Stadium is former 'Eater and twin sister to Mihaela Perez, Jenae
Sunday at the Aggies
Β·Β UC Irvine and UC Davis play for the 29th time as the Aggies took over the series lead last year, 12-11-5. The series is even in matches at UC Davis with five wins for each program and four draws
Β·Β The 2023 match went to UC Davis, 1-0, in the regular season finale in Anteater Stadium. A 61st-minute goal propelled the Aggies, but UC Irvine still managed to make the postseason field eventually winning it all
Β·Β The Aggies were a non-conference power going 7-2 that included a loss to No. 10 Santa Clara and win over LSU. They've returned to Earth in Big West play losing to CSUB and at Hawai'i, but picking up wins vs. Fullerton and LBSU, and most recently drew with UC San Diego needing 12 saves in the effort. UCD leads the Big West with over two goals a game powered by Genavieve Fontes (9 G, 2 A) and Sam Tristan (8 G, 3 A), last year's goal scorer. Caeley Goldstein in net is up to 64 saves playing every minute between the posts
Players Mentioned
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