Five Things to Know About the 2025 Anteaters
UC Irvine women's soccer returns with the first exhibition for UC Irvine Athletics this Monday, August 4, in Anteater Stadium and another the following Monday, August 11, that offers free admission to fans.
The 'Eaters finished 2024 with another berth in the Big West Championship, but were unable to duplicate their run of three consecutive championship crowns falling in the opening round. UCI had been 1 of 7 programs to reach the Sweet Sixteen in consecutive seasons in 2022 and 2023, and look to rebound back to their title-winning ways with another deep postseason run.
Below are five of the main factors entering the 2025 season for UC Irvine women's soccer who starts their season Thursday, August 14 in Arizona with their home opener on Sunday, August 24, against the University of Washington:
TECHNICAL STAFF
- One of the most stable coaching staffs in the country is back headed by Scott Juniper for his 19th year and 18th season. He's led the program to 12 winning seasons and 10 years of 10 or more wins. His staff also remains intact with assistants P.J. Woolridge and Danielle de Seriere on for a 11th season as a unit compiling 92 wins over that span. Joining for a fifth season is goalkeeper assistant Ludo Antunes while also assisting with NWSL club Angel City FC, and another former staff member has joined the NWSL ranks with Nico Ruiz part of Portland Thorns FC.
THE JOURNEY ITSELF
- The Anteater schedule once again is formidable as the program looks to get back to a winning season. The regular season kicks off with five of the first six matches on the road featuring Big XII foe Arizona. Anteater Stadium will be the place to be starting late August with the home opener against the University of Washington making their first appearance in Irvine since 2010. A huge homestand completes the non-conference ledger with two-time National Champion Santa Clara coming in from primetime, September 11, and the finale before Big West play on a Sunday afternoon Senior Day Celebration against Washington State. Big West play sees the usual suspects with big names like UC Santa Barbara, Cal Poly, and for the final time as a conference member, UC Davis, coming to UCI, and the regular season finale in Hawai'i against the reigning Big West champs in their swan song as part of the conference.
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BACK LINE STATE OF MIND
- UC Irvine has had so much success in recent seasons mostly because of its defense. The 'Eaters rolled through three straight Big West Championships without allowing a goal, it upset USC and UCLA three straight years in the first round on clean sheets, and the defense will be strong again coming into 2025. The backline is led by a pair of the captains, Suus de Bakker and Mihaela Perez, and even defensive midfielder Ivy Williams has earned the captain title. The fifth-years have put in their time with over 8,000 minutes between them, and a pair of sophomores, Kori Pickelle and Hailey Clingan, are primed to step up for the other defensive spots building on strong seasons on the backline in their first action as Anteaters in 2024. Goalkeeper has also been a key component to the success, and the 2025 Anteaters will be wide open in net with under 120 career minutes from a pair of fourth-year netminders Laurynn Ziller and Savanna Arruda with freshman Kamilah Jones in the keeper room as well and the opportunity to be the top goalie waiting for all three.
KICKING IT INTO GEAR
- The offensive attack for UCI scored 19 goals in 19 matches in 2024. Returning to the fold are just four total goals including a pair by freshmen Clara Samson and Milan Heisdorf. They will have a chance to run the offense in 2025 along with another goalscorer from last year, Mia Colombini, and more like Chifumi Sasaki and Mirayah Villalpando with another year of experience under their belt.
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JOINING THE FLOCK
- The incoming class every year for coach Juniper's squad provides an immediate impact. The 2024 squad saw over 5,000 minutes just from freshmen alone and likely another influx of minutes. From the transfer portal, UCI brought in two players, both ready to make an impact and both from the University of Oregon. Midfielder Trinity Morales is a grad transfer by way of Tucson. She played 45 matches and started 37 in her three years with the Ducks and is coming off an injury, but was a contributor throughout including her six points as a freshman. Ariane Haysman Boaler comes to the 'Eaters as a sophomore after coming off the bench 17 times in 2024 and scoring once, but an imposing 5-10 figure will look to step in and fortify the attack
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