COUNTER ATTACKS
3 - The Anteaters have drawn their Big West opener now each of the last 3 seasons (at UC San Diego twice, vs. LBSU)
13 - Following Sunday's match 13 seniors will be celebrated including three back for a second time (Smeenge, Mendoza, Ragon)
 
THROW-INS
5 - Laila El Behery had 5 points at Pacific, the most by an 'Eater since 2021 with her first career brace and second GWG
103 - Aislynn Crowder played her 50th career match joining Emilie Castagna this season driving the all-time total to 103 'Eaters

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

 
· Senior Day is Sunday with the 'Eaters recognizing 13 student-athletes. Three 'Eaters return for a second ceremony - Kiera Smeenge, Desiree Mendoza, and Chloe Ragon. A host of graduating Anteaters join them in Alyssa Wheeler, Aveka Singh, Mihaela Perez, Autumn Thompkins, Suus de Bakker, Aislynn Crowder, and Laila El Behery. Grad and senior transfers will also be included - Kaitlyn Paculba, Ashley Naylor, and Lawson Willis - in the ceremony that will happen following the match.
· The Big West conference opener was a 0-0 draw at UCSD. Both sides gain a point as UCI draws to start Big West play for the third straight season. UCI is winless (0-1-3) over the last four Big West openers which includes 0-1-2 the prior three years where they won championships
· Anteater milestones continue to fall in 2024:
Þ Aislynn Crowder topped 50 matches at UC Irvine last week. Along with Emilie Castagna this season, that drives the all-time total to 103 Anteaters to play 50 or more matches with the program. Next match it will grow to 104 with Mihaela Perez playing in her 50th.
Þ Kiera Smeenge and Desiree Mendoza each eclipsed 70 matches as an Anteater. Smeenge hit 70 career starts at UCSD becoming the 18th Anteater to reach that mark
Þ Lawson Willis' eclipsed 80 collegiate matches at UCSD and also surpassed 5,000 career minutes
· UCI finishes their 28-day trip away from Anteater Stadium this Sunday. On their hiatus, UCI went 1-0-2 with a win at Pacific and draws at Washington State and UC San Diego
#TeamJenika Returns to the Pitch
· Anteater junior Jenika Davis returned to the pitch in the last UCI home match 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

Sunday vs. the Matadors
· UC Irvine and CSUN meet up for the 29th time in their histories and UCI is on a roll unbeaten over the past five matches to lead the series, 12-11-5. UCI won four times between 2021 and 2022 before a 0-0 draw in 2023. Under coach Juniper, the 'Eaters have a 9-5-4 record with each side going on unbeaten runs at different points, and a 5-1-2 home record during his tenure.
· The 2023 matchup was a 0-0 draw at Northridge helping UCI clinch a tournament berth, but not the result they were hoping for against a squad that finished 1-13-5 on the season. UCI dominated the stat sheet with a 19-4 shot advantage, nine on target, and 7-1 in corners, but were unable to find a breakthrough
· The Matadors are on the rise here in 2024. Even with a 3-7-1 record, they've had four losses by one goal, have a win over a good LMU squad, and drew last week against Cal State Fullerton. Going on the road has been tough with an 0–5 mark and just one goal in those matches until Thursday with a big 1-0 win at Long Beach State. CSUN has made their goals count with juniors Cailey Jackson and Yoshi Rubalcava leading the way with five goals between them. Riley Liebsack in net has 63 saves playing every single minute for a defense that allows 18 shots per match