COUNTER ATTACKS
3 - UCI has had 3 different goalkeepers earn a win this season - Alex Shields with 2, walk-on Paul Jing, and Luke Pruter last match
1,000 - Three Big West schools have had multiple 1,000-person crowds including the last two at Anteater Stadium (1,211 & 1335)

THROW-INS
9/2 - Anteater keeper Paul Jing joined the program on 9/2 from the intramural team and earned a win and shutout vs. SDSU
270 - Saturday vs. Utah Tech marked the first Anteater hat trick in 270 matches (Spencer Thompson vs. AFA - 9/12/2010)

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

 
· Marcus Lee provided the team's only tally last week with the game-winner at UC Davis. Lee's goal was his second and first game-winner helped by Brady Treinen's assist, the fifth of his career
· UC Irvine goalkeeping has been a story to this point with three keepers earning a win:
Þ  Luke Pruter came into the year as the starter and was injured after the first match. He returned last week to make five saves in two matches and securing a shutout victory at UC Davis on Saturday
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 Luke Pruter and Alex Shields, he got the start Saturday and got the team the win and a shutout. He added two big-time saves as the Beijing-born keeper from Temple City High School.
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.
· The Anteater faithful showed out during Welcome Week with the largest crowd of the season at 1,211, and followed that with 1,335 vs. Cal State Fullerton - the fourth and fifth crowds of over 1,000 in the last three seasons. UCI joins UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Bakersfield as the only Big West schools to host multiple crowds of over 1,000 this season
· 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 42nd-toughest in the nation and the overall schedule is the 36th-toughest. The 'Eaters sit with an RPI of 81, third in the Big West (UCSB - 28, CSF - 34).

Wednesday at the Highlanders
· UC Irvine and UC Riverside play for the 39th time on Wednesday and 20th time on the artificial turf of Riverside. The playing field is part of the matchup with high scores recently with 20 total goals in the last five matches. UCI is 23-12-3 all-time vs. UCR, but one win in their last four matches in Riverside
· Last season's matchup was a close 1-0 UCI win thanks to a set piece golazo from Oscar Cervantes in Anteater Stadium. The Highlanders played UCSB tough in the Big West First Round matchup, a year after winning the Big West Championship and dispatching UCI in their regular season contest, 4-0.
· The Highlanders are 2-5-2 in 2024 with a few bright spots winning at LMU and drawing at CBU and CSUN. Homefield has not been an advantage so far 0-2 including a loss to Utah Tech.  UCR is near the bottom in a lot of categories including goals, corners, and cautions. Seniors Luka Lukic and Noah Lopez power the attack with three goals each, and the defense rides with Carlos Gonzalez and his 238 career saves in 64 matches.

Saturday vs. the Gauchos
· UC Irvine and No. 23 UC Santa Barbara renew their rivalry for the 63rd time. UCI has 19 wins and eight draws in the series, most against a ranked UCSB squad that will likely be ranked again Saturday. UCI is an even 2-2-5 since coach Raz took over, and he has not lost in Anteater Stadium with two wins and two draws. That includes last year's Big West semifinal that UCI came from behind to win, 2-1, after a scoreless regular season meeting.
· The Gauchos have been humming along at 7-2-2 thumping most of their opponents by multiple goals. Their only real hurdle has been Cal Poly with a loss and a draw. UCSB is also vulnerable on the road where they're 3-2. They score two goals a match with senior Alexis Ledoux (9 G, 3 A) the driving force joined by top contributors Nicolas Willumsen (2 G, 2 A) and Kaden Standish (2 G, 2 A). David Mitzner (.771 Save %, 0.73 GAA) and the defense are equally impressive on a Gaucho squad that leads the nation in fouls committed and cautions.