Saturday, September 21
Irvine, Calif.
6:00 PM
UC Irvine
vs
Utah Tech
Photo by: Matt Brown
Anteaters Host Trailblazers Saturday Night
September 18, 2024 | Men's Soccer
COUNTER ATTACKS
3 - UCI has faced 3 ranked foes to this point, winless against them, and a draw against Vermont which was receiving votes
4.4 - Alex Shields has 22 saves through his first five matches, 4.4 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
· UC Irvine is among the national leaders in a few of their 2024 statistics
Þ UCI commits 9.33 fouls per game, lowest in the Big West and 27th-lowest in the nation
Þ Anteater keepers stop 4.83 shots per game, 27th in the nation, and Alex Shields is among the Big West leaders second with 4.4 per match and third with 22 total including eight at #17 UCF
· A number of Anteaters have opened their accounts in 2024 in terms of points and minutes
Þ 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.
Þ First career points have come for Marcus Lee, his first goal in the draw vs. Vermont, Justin Conyers, from his goal vs. Mercyhurst going down as the game-winner, and Misael Gonzalez, scoring in his debut at Mercyhurst, and adding his first career start vs. San Diego
Þ Four Anteaters have eclipsed 60 career matches in their Anteater careers led by Francesco Montanile and his 61 starts and joined by Mario Anaya, Josh Kenworthy, and Mathis Winum
· UC Irvine's non-conference slate has been tough taking on four opponents receiving national votes, three nationally ranked, and two in road matches. The 'Eaters' schedule currently ranks as the 43rd-toughest in the nation
Saturday vs. the Trailblazers
· UC Irvine and Utah Tech meet for the second time ever and first time against Utah Tech. Formerly, the school was Dixie State when the sides met in Anteater Stadium in 2021 as the Trailblazers were reclassifying.
· The last meeting was one-sided as UC Irvine took the win, 5-0, leading from the sixth minute on and putting home two goals in the span of 18 seconds in the second half. None of the point-getters return from that UCI team with three starters back—Mario Anaya, Francesco Montanile, and Mathias Winum—and others like Roman Warren and Josh Kenworthy coming off the bench. Even a young Luke Pruter made his collegiate debut with two saves in 12 minutes of action off the bench
· The Trailblazers have been a school since 1911 with their soccer program around since 2008 and they joined Division I just in 2019. They're finally starting to gain some traction after a 9-9 season in 2023 including taking down Grand Canyon, Saint Mary's, and Gonzaga.
· In 2024, Utah Tech is a completely different roster from the 2021 matchup with head coach Jonny Broadhead still in charge for his eighth season. The offense has spread five goals to five different players while Bryce Backlund (1 G, 2 A) leads in points and the top shooters are Austin Wallace (1 G, 8 SH), Damian Arguello (1 G, 9 SH, 7 SOG), and Jason Buezo (11 SH). Stockton Short has been serviceable in net with 44 saves as UTU has played close save a 6-1 defeat to Cal State Fullerton. They've picked up a win at UCR and draws with Cal Poly and #18 Portland
3 - UCI has faced 3 ranked foes to this point, winless against them, and a draw against Vermont which was receiving votes
4.4 - Alex Shields has 22 saves through his first five matches, 4.4 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
· UC Irvine is among the national leaders in a few of their 2024 statistics
Þ UCI commits 9.33 fouls per game, lowest in the Big West and 27th-lowest in the nation
Þ Anteater keepers stop 4.83 shots per game, 27th in the nation, and Alex Shields is among the Big West leaders second with 4.4 per match and third with 22 total including eight at #17 UCF
· A number of Anteaters have opened their accounts in 2024 in terms of points and minutes
Þ 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.
Þ First career points have come for Marcus Lee, his first goal in the draw vs. Vermont, Justin Conyers, from his goal vs. Mercyhurst going down as the game-winner, and Misael Gonzalez, scoring in his debut at Mercyhurst, and adding his first career start vs. San Diego
Þ Four Anteaters have eclipsed 60 career matches in their Anteater careers led by Francesco Montanile and his 61 starts and joined by Mario Anaya, Josh Kenworthy, and Mathis Winum
· UC Irvine's non-conference slate has been tough taking on four opponents receiving national votes, three nationally ranked, and two in road matches. The 'Eaters' schedule currently ranks as the 43rd-toughest in the nation
Saturday vs. the Trailblazers
· UC Irvine and Utah Tech meet for the second time ever and first time against Utah Tech. Formerly, the school was Dixie State when the sides met in Anteater Stadium in 2021 as the Trailblazers were reclassifying.
· The last meeting was one-sided as UC Irvine took the win, 5-0, leading from the sixth minute on and putting home two goals in the span of 18 seconds in the second half. None of the point-getters return from that UCI team with three starters back—Mario Anaya, Francesco Montanile, and Mathias Winum—and others like Roman Warren and Josh Kenworthy coming off the bench. Even a young Luke Pruter made his collegiate debut with two saves in 12 minutes of action off the bench
· The Trailblazers have been a school since 1911 with their soccer program around since 2008 and they joined Division I just in 2019. They're finally starting to gain some traction after a 9-9 season in 2023 including taking down Grand Canyon, Saint Mary's, and Gonzaga.
· In 2024, Utah Tech is a completely different roster from the 2021 matchup with head coach Jonny Broadhead still in charge for his eighth season. The offense has spread five goals to five different players while Bryce Backlund (1 G, 2 A) leads in points and the top shooters are Austin Wallace (1 G, 8 SH), Damian Arguello (1 G, 9 SH, 7 SOG), and Jason Buezo (11 SH). Stockton Short has been serviceable in net with 44 saves as UTU has played close save a 6-1 defeat to Cal State Fullerton. They've picked up a win at UCR and draws with Cal Poly and #18 Portland
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's SoccerGreat moments to recall from 2025 💭
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