COUNTER ATTACKS
#39 - Two years after being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, #39 Jenika Davis returned to the field Sunday vs. Arizona
:47 - Clara Samson scored 47 seconds into the season and her career, 1 of 3 freshman this year to score in their first minute
 

THROW-INS
10th - The coaching staff of Scott Juniper, P.J. Woolridge, and Danielle de Seriere enter their 10th season together with 87 wins
28 - The 'Eaters are in the midst of a 28-day trip away from Anteater Stadium where they'll play Wash. St., Pacific, and UCSD

SET PIECES
1st - 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 - UCI joins UNC, Florida State, Penn State, Pittsburgh, BYU, and Memphis as the 7 programs to reach the last 2 Sweet 16s

 
· Anteaters have seen 9 of their 17 points earned by newcomers. Milan Heisdorf opened her account with an amazing assist in Thursday's draw. Other freshman to earn points have been Clara Samson and Ivy Williams and transfers Kaitlyn Paculba and Lawson Willis have opened their Anteater accounts. Mia Colombini earned the first points of her career in her third season starting with an assist at Saint Mary's and her first career goal Thursday vs. San Francisco.
· Anteater milestones continue to fall in 2024:
Þ Emilie Castagna played in her 50th match as an Anteater, raising the program total to 102 all-time with 50+ matches. Aislynn Crowder and Chloe Ragon have reached 60 matches
Þ Kiera Smeenge hit 70 matches with Desiree Mendoza joining her last Thursday.
Þ Minutes milestones are falling with Kiera Smeenge eclipsing 5,000 career minutes this year and Willis 90 minutes from joining her. Five 'Eaters have eclipsed 3,000 minutes this season.
· Clara Samson started her account early with a goal 47 seconds into her career, the game-winner at Saint Mary's. She joined three other freshmen in college soccer to score in the opening minute of their team's opening match in 2024 - Shea Collins (34 seconds) for South Carolina and Julia Acosta (40 seconds) for Fordham.
· Anteater junior Jenika Davis returned to the pitch vs. Arizona for the first time since being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in 2022. She received treatment and then a transplant in March 2023 through National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). She was honored September 21st, 2023 with that month's CalHOPE Courage Award
Big West Freshman of the Week
· UC Irvine's first award of 2024 was presented to Milan Heisdorf as last week's Big West Freshman of the Week. The defender lofted a cross headed home by Emilie Castagna for the equalizer in a 1-1 game at Washington State for her first point. UCI's first time winning the award since 2021.

Thursday at the Tigers
· UC Irvine and Pacific meet up for a second straight season and 25th time in their histories. UCI has 14 wins in all including the last two matchups to nine defeats and one draw. UCI returns to Stockton for the first time since 2012 when the Tigers were still in the Big West and the Anteaters posted a 2-1 victory. The 'Eaters are 3-0 all-time against the Tigers in non-conference matchups including a pair of wins in the mid-90s. In Stockton, UCI holds a 5-5-1 record
· Last year's meeting was a 2-0 victory for UC Irvine in Anteater Stadium. A Tati Fung penalty in the 30th minute put UCI up, and Alyssa Moore put the game away in the 64th minute. Desiree Mendoza had the primary assist on Moore's goal, and was 1 of 12 Anteaters back from last year that earned minutes in the match, six of which were in the starting lineup. UCI had advantages in shots, 10-9, and corners, 13-5. Pacific is also led by co-head coaches Danesha Adams and J.J. Wozniak in their third season in their roles for the Tigers without a losing season
· The Tigers have 13 of their own back that recorded minutes in last season's match including six in the starting lineup. Most notably of the bunch is Alexis Pashales and her seven goals last season and 1 of 2 Tigers to net a pair in 2024. Keeper Libby Davy also returns from last year's matchup, and she had made each start until Sunday when freshman Sierra Schwarz made her first career start and proceeded to allow nine goals in a defeat to Utah State.