COUNTER ATTACKS
0 - In UC Irvine's first 5 matches, there have been 0 shutouts with at least 1 goal scored and allowed in each contest
5.0 - Alex Shields has 20 saves through his first four matches, 5.0 per match, including 8 vs. #17 UCF and a PK at South Florida

THROW-INS
1st - UC Irvine was picked 1st in the Preseason Big West Coaches' Poll with All-Big West honorees Winum, Montanile, and Pruter
7 - Marcus Lee was named Big West Freshman of the Week; UCI has claimed the honor 7 times since its 2021 inception

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
7th - UC Irvine reached the NCAA Tournament for the 7th time, second under coach Raz and all program trips made since 2008

 
· The Anteaters went 0-2 in Florida including a loss to No. 17 UCF. Two of UCI's three losses have come to ranked teams, and they've added a draw against Vermont, a program that was receiving national votes
· Agaton Pourshahidi has delivered early in 2024 with two goals to lead the team. His first came on the road at No. 4 Oregon State to bring UCI within one, and added a second to level the match at South Florida in the first half. He scored again at South Florida which was disallowed because of a foul on UCI.
· Alex Shields continues to impress in goal stopping 14 shots over the two matches in Florida. Shields has 20 in his first four career matches including setting a new career high of eight on the road against No. 17 UCF, and he made a save on a penalty kick attempt to keep it a one-goal game Monday at South Florida
· A number of Anteaters have opened their accounts in 2024 in terms of points and minutes. In all, nine Anteaters have made their collegiate debuts including second-year Anteaters Braden Ferreira and Isaac Nixon and third-year Alex Shields. Isaiah Quarcoo, who spent two years at Tulsa and transferred to UCI in 2023, got his first minutes for the 'Eaters vs. Mercyhurst. Misael Gonzalez made his debut and scored his first goal vs. Mercyhurst, and Justin Conyers added his first points, the game-winner in that match. Marcus Lee's first career goal and points helped earn a draw vs. Vermont
· Marcus Lee took home Big West Freshman of the Week honors the week prior after scoring his first career goal on the draw with Vermont. UCI has won the award seven times in the four years since its inception with current 'Eaters Nolan DiCenzo, Agaton Pourshahidi, and Brady Treinen also recipients

Friday vs. the Toreros
· UC Irvine and San Diego meet for the 29th time this Friday and the first of four straight home matches for the Anteaters. The Toreros own the all-time series edge with 19 wins to UCI's eight and one draw between them. The 'Eaters have controlled things lately with a 5-1-2 record in the last eight including shutouts in five of the matches and no regulation losses since 2005. USD enters the national rankings this week at No. 21. UCI is 0-3 all-time against a ranked Torero squad with all matches happening prior to 2003. UCI is 0-2 against ranked squads this year after going 1-1-1 against them in 2023.
· The last meeting happened in 2021 at Torero Stadium. UCI shot out to a lead in the sixth minute adding goals in the 20th and 51st minutes en route to a 3-1 victory. USD held the 20-11 shot advantage with Luke Pruter collecting nine saves. Aside from Pruter, five other 'Eaters from the match are still on the UCI roster including starters Mathias Winum, Josh Kenworthy, and Francesco Montanile with Roman Warren and Mario Anaya providing bench minutes.
· The Toreros have gone through a complete overhaul from 2021. That season, they finished 2-15; the two seasons since, they've won the WCC and reached the NCAA Tournament in both, all under Brian Quinn in his seventh year at the helm of USD after 11 seasons prior as the team's assistant coach. None of the players on the 2021 roster return for this Friday's matchup.
· In 2024, USD is unbeaten at 3-0-2 which includes draws with No. 20 Duke and Washington, wins over SDSU and at UCSD who UCI also faces, and a 8-1 thumping of Lipscomb. Cesar Bahena had a hat trick in that match among his four goals this year, and 1 of 5 Toreros with multiple goals. In net, Luis Ludosan and Donovan Parisian have split the time averaging 3.2 saves per match, and stout defense playing every minute from Owen Walz and Ethan Warne