Mihaela Perez Named Preseason All-Big West

Fifth-year defender Mihaela Perez is representing the Anteaters on the Preseason All-Big West Team announced today as voted on by the Big West Coaches.

Perez joins a long list of Anteaters to be on the preseason team including defenders like Kiera Smeenge last season and Maddy Chavez. Perez is in her fifth year with the program and was named a team captain in the offseason. She's accumulated 59 career matches on the backline with numerous clean sheets and eight career points including her first goal just last season. Perez also spent another offseason playing with the Guamanian National Team in Asian Cup qualifiers.

The announcements Thursday also included the projected Big West standings for 2025. The ‘Eaters were projected to finish third hauling in one of the 11 first-place votes. For the eighth straight season, the Anteaters have been picked to finish in the top four. Reigning regular season champion Hawai’i was projected first with six first-place votes. Reigning championship title holders UC Santa Barbara were projected second with three first-place votes. Long Beach State earned the final first-place vote projected to finish fourth.

2025 Women's Soccer Awards

Big West Preseason Coaches Poll - projected to finish 3rd
Mihaela Perez - Grad., DEF

UC Irvine was represented on the United Soccer Coaches All-West Region squad announced Tuesday. It's the fourth straight year UC Irvine has had an all-region representative.

Two ‘Eaters were recognized led by senior forward Laila El Behery. The Cairo-native finished her best season as an Anteater with team highs of six goals, three game-winners, and 13 points. El Behery scored Big West Offensive Player of the Week honors in the regular season finale after netting a game-winner vs. UC Riverside to seal UCI’s postseason berth. She added a five-point match this year with two goals, the game-winner, and an assist at Pacific.

College Sports Communicators unveiled their Academic All-District teams Tuesday morning with two Anteaters making the cut in 2024.

The CSC adjusted its criteria last season to be considered for the honor now with any player of sophomore status or higher both academically and athletically with a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher that has played in 90% of their team's matches or started 66% of them will earn the distinction. In the past, Anteaters had been named All-District or All-American a total of seven times.

UC Irvine saw the maximum of six named to the team in 2023, and follow that up with two in 2024 - fifth-year ‘Eaters Desiree Mendoza and Autumn Thompkins. It’s the first honor for either hitting all the criteria from the CSC. Mendoza finished with a game-winning goal and an assist while playing in all 19 matches, and Thompkins playing in 18 of the 19 contributing as a forward for the Anteaters.

All-American voting begins soon with awards handed out later in the month.

All-Big West was announced Saturday with six Anteaters recognized across all four teams. The six honorees marks the 11th time six or more have been recognized in the 17 seasons under head coach Scott Juniper's tutelage. The total in those 17 years rises to 101 Anteaters honored, and the 38th first-teamer in junior midfielder Emilie Castagna.

Castagna garnered the only First Team accolade from the Anteaters. It comes as the second honor for the junior joining All-Freshman Team honors in 2022. She was also named Big West Championship MVP in last year's tournament run.

Castagna scored three of her four goals this season in Big West play adding her first career game-winning goal. She stands second on the club in goals and points.

She becomes the 38th All-Big West First Team recipient under coach Juniper. In the past three years that all ended in Big West Championships, the 'Eaters had seven First Team honorees with Castagna making it eight in four years.

Second Team All-Big West saw two Anteaters honored in senior forward Laila El Behery and grad defender Kiera Smeenge.

El Behery makes All-Big West for the first time in her career ending the regular season as the team's leader in goals, points, and game-winning goals. In all categories, she sits fourth in the conference. She claimed the final Big West Offensive Player of the Week honor to finish the regular season, the second one of her career in addition to a pair of Freshman of the Week accolades.

Smeenge is on the team for a fourth time in four years. This season she makes Second Team for a first time following First Team a year ago, Honorable Mention in 2022, and All-Freshman honors in 2021. She's been a force on the defensive end leading to six shutouts this year, and is second among Anteater field players in minutes with 1,378.

Two more Anteaters claimed Honorable Mention status in midfielder Desiree Mendoza and grad transfer keeper Ashley Naylor.

Mendoza made her first All-Big West team in her fifth season with just one goal and one assist. He highlight-reel set piece goal went as a game-winner, the seventh of her career, and came in Big West play.

Naylor joined the Anteaters after four years at Notre Dame where she was never selected to an all-conference squad. She's started every match for UCI in 2024, and in Big West action, she finished as the leader in goals-against-average at 0.60, her five shutouts tied for the most, and she stopped 32 shots and finished fourth with a .842 save percentage.

Ivy Williams represented on the All-Freshman Team putting in 1,320 minutes in the midfield and contributing three assists on the offensive end playing all but one match.

In the 12 years since the Big West implemented the award, an Anteater has now been recognized in 10 of those years with current and recent names like Emilie Castagna, Kiera Smeenge, and Sophie Gillies honored.

Senior forward Laila El Behery scored a pivotal goal helping UC Irvine defeat UC Riverside, 1-0, Thursday night and sew up a Big West Championship berth. It also scored the Egyptian native Big West Offensive Player of the Week.

The striker's goal came in the 47th minute on a cross from Chloe Ragon heading it over the keeper and in. She continues to lead the team with six goals, 13 points, and three game-winners, and ranks fourth in the Big West in each of those categories.

El Behery's honor is the second of her career and fourth overall to go with a pair of Big West Freshman of the Week honors. She joins Emilie Castagna and Milan Heisdorf to also win awards in the 2024 season.

Striker Emilie Castagna carried a big load for the Anteaters last week with three goals in the team's comeback results.

Castagna started last week with an equalizer and game-winner to help UC Irvine comeback to beat Cal State Fullerton, 3-1, on Thursday. She added another equalizer Sunday as UCI came back from 2-0 down in the second half to tie at UC Davis, 2-2. Castagna celebrated her first career brace and first career game-winner on Thursday as she's up to four goals on the year and nine in her Anteater career.

It's just the second honor of 2024 for UC Irvine joining Milan Heisdorf's Big West Freshman of the Week accolade. Castagna, already with Big West Championship MVP and two All-Big West honors, adds her second Big West Offensive Player of the Week to her resume winning the other in September of 2023.

UC Irvine's first award of the 2024 season went to Milan Heisdorf as the Big West Freshman of the Week.

The first-year Anteater had played in every match prior to last week and just earned her first start. In her second career start Thursday at Washington State, she registered her first career point on a scintillating cross to feed Emilie Castagna for a header goal to tie up the eventual 1-1 game.

Heisdorf scores her first career award and first for the team in 2024. The Anteaters won Big West Freshman of the Week seven times in the first season it was offered in 2021, but had not reclaimed it since until this week with Heisdorf.

Three of the last four years of the Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll have now featured multiple Anteaters as seniors Kiera Smeenge and Desiree Mendoza.

Both have played over 63 matches in their careers and were huge contributors especially with 2,600+ minutes between them last season. Smeenge has buttoned up the backline helping toward 10 shutouts in 2023 and adding her first career assist. Mendoza scored her sixth career game-winning goal among her three goals and four assists a season ago.

The Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll was also unveiled with UC Irvine projected to finish fourth. All 11 first-place votes were reserved for the top three projected programs - Cal Poly, Cal State Fullerton, and projected champion Long Beach State

2024 Women's Soccer Awards

United Soccer Coaches All-West Region
Laila El Behery - Third Team
Emilie Castagna - Third Team

CSC Academic All-District
Desiree Mendoza
Autumn Thompkins

All-Big West
Emilie Castagna - First Team
Kiera Smeenge - Second Team
Laila El Behery - Second Team
Desiree Mendoza - Honorable Mention
Ashley Naylor - Honorable Mention
Ivy Williams - All-Freshman Team

Big West Offensive Player of the Week
Emilie Castagna - Jr., FWD - Oct. 21
Laila El Behery - Sr., FWD - Nov. 1

Big West Freshman of the Week
Milan Heisdorf - Fr., DEF - Sept. 9

Big West Preseason Coaches Poll - projected to finish 4th
Kiera Smeenge - Sr., DEF
Desiree Mendoza - Sr., FWD

United Soccer Coaches announced their All-Region teams on Tuesday with Glo Hinojosa and Alyssa Moore taking home honors for UC Irvine

Glo Hinojosa was named to the Second Team, the third time she's earned All-West Region status. Hinojosa was Second Team in 2021 and Third Team a year ago. The sixth-year Anteater posted 10 more shutouts in 2023 to tie her for the program record of 31 in her career. She also claimed 10 wins, a goals-against-average just over 1.00, and a career high 72 saves as she finishes ninth in the nation in minutes played.

Alyssa Moore heard her name called for the first time after personal bests in all categories with seven goals, five assists, and 19 points. She once again had one game-winning goal, but it came in an NCAA First Round upset of UCLA just like her lone game-winner of the 2021 season.

The 'Eaters have now seen nine All-West Region honors over the last three seasons as the program total runs to 36 all-time.

College Sports Communicators unveiled their Academic All-District teams Tuesday morning with six Anteaters making the cut in 2023.

The CSC has adjusted its criteria to be considered for the honor now with any player of sophomore status or higher both academically and athletically with a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher that has played in 90% of their team's matches or started 66% of them will earn the distinction. In the past, Anteaters have been named All-District or All-American a total of seven times.

The six Anteaters recognized in the 2023 season are Kiera Smeenge, Gianna Creighton, Suus de Bakker, Sophie Gillies, Lilli Rask, and Alyssa Moore, the first honor for each student-athlete. All-American voting begins soon with awards handed out later in the month.

Five Anteaters were named to the 2023 All-Big West including three players for a third time, one second-timer, and one 'Eater with her first honor.

Just a year after the team went as far as the NCAA Sweet Sixteen for a second time without any All-Big West First Team honors, they secured three this time and at least one person on each of the teams

Tati Fung was the lone Anteater making her first appearance scoring First Team honors. The midfielder backed up her brilliant midfield play with a Big West-best eight assists and five in Big West matches highlighted by a program-record four-assist match in a win at Cal State Bakersfield. The junior added two goals as well including a game-winner to finish second on the team and ninth in the Big West with 12 points

Alyssa Moore joined her on the First Team with her usual six goals adding five assists for 17 points to finish top five in the conference in all three categories. She's now earned an honor in all three seasons she's recorded a match going from honorable mention in 2021 to Second Team in 2022 and now First Team.

Kiera Smeenge rounded out the First Team honors with the first of her career and third overall joined by Honorable Mention last season and All-Freshman Team in 2021. The senior battled back from injury midseason to help UCI's defense in five of their six clean sheets and an Anteater squad that allowed the least amount of shots on goal in the Big West

Glo Hinojosa represented on the Second Team giving her two Second Team nods and one First Team in her time as an Anteater. The 2021 Big West Goalkeeper of the Year also battled through injuries and still manage 51 saves, six shutouts, and the second-best goals-against-average in Big West matches at 0.786

Gianna Creighton finishes off the five 'Eaters with her third All-Big West appearance with Honorable Mention this season to give her one of each team over her career. That career has spanned 81 matches, top 10 in UCI history, and 81 starts, just the fourth Anteater to reach that total. For the third time in her career, she led the team in minutes up over 7,000 for her career, and she added a bit of offense with a pair of assists this season to give her six career points

The sophomore from England claimed her first career award scoring Big West Offensive Player of the Week honors.

The Bournemouth native had her first three-point match in Thursday's 2-2 draw with UC Santa Barbara. A tap-in goal for her third of the season gave UCI the lead in the 35th minute, and then she helped set up UCI's second goal minutes later.

Castagna's honor is the team's second joining Laila El Behery's offensive accolade at the beginning of the month. It's her first weekly honor in her career after being named to the Big West All-Freshman Team last season

Junior forward Laila El Behery scored in each match last week to score her first Big West Offensive Player of the Week honor

The Egyptian national began the week salvaging a draw on the road Thursday with an 82nd-minute header goal to tie with San Jose State, 3-3. She added a second goal driving the right wing and finishing a fantastic individual effort on Sunday to put UCI up 2-0 against Sacramento State for goals in consecutive matches.

El Behery adds to her Big West honors after winning Big West Freshman of the Week twice during the 2021 season. Her goals push her career total to six and 13 points, and she matches the team high in goals in 2023.

The Big West unveiled the Preseason Coaches' Poll and Team ahead of the 2023 season. With the Anteaters returning as the Big West Championship winner, they still finished sixth in the regular season standings grabbing the last spot in the first year of six berths into the conference postseason tournament.

Ahead of the 2022 season, the 'Eaters were picked to finish first coming off a regular season title the year prior. For 2023, UC Irvine slides to a third-place projection as voted on by Big West coaches, the fifth consecutive poll that projects the Anteaters at either first or third.

UC Irvine snagged three first-place votes of the 11 issued. Five schools in all earned at least one with the projected first-place school. Long Beach State, receiving two. Cal Poly was slotted to finish second but received the most first-place votes at four. Cal State Fullerton in fourth and UC Santa Barbara in sixth earned one vote apiece.

The ‘Eaters captured the headlines with three on the Preseason All-Big West Team to lead all teams. The three selections matches the 2019 Anteaters for the most selections by the program. Since the Big West began voting a preseason team in 2012, the 'Eaters have placed multiple selections six times now.

Glo Hinojosa claims her first preseason honor to add to Big West Championship MVP, All-West Region, and a pair of All-Big West nods. She is the second Anteater keeper joining Maddie Newsom in 2019 to grace the team. Hinojosa will play her 50th career match to open her season entering the year with 27 career wins, 21 shutouts, and a 0.93 goals-against-average.

Gianna Creighton hears her name called for a second time with the first coming in 2021. She joins Cami Privett, Natalia Ledezma, and Kiana Palacios as multiple honorees. The active leader in matches played enters the season with 63 caps and starts and is approaching 6,000 career minutes as a defensive midfield cog.

Alyssa Moore completes the trio with her first honor. She brings back her six goals which tied for the team lead and team-high four game-winning goals from a season ago, and the fifth-year Anteater enters the year as the active leader with 28 career points and 75 shots taken.

2023 Women's Soccer Awards

United Soccer Coaches Women's Soccer All-West Region
Glo Hinojosa - Second Team
Alyssa Moore - Third Team

College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
Gianna Creighton
Kiera Smeenge
Sophie Gillies
Lilli Rask
Suus de Bakker
Alyssa Moore

All-Big West
Tati Fung - First Team, Jr. MID
Kiera Smeenge - First Team, Sr. DEF
Alyssa Moore - First Team, RS-Jr. FWD
Glo Hinojosa - Second Team, Grad. GK
Gianna Creighton - Honorable Mention, RS-Sr. MID

Big West Offensive Player of the Week
Laila El Behery - Jr., FWD - Sept. 4
Emilie Castagna - So., FWD - Sept. 25

Big West Preseason Coaches Poll - projected to finish 3rd
Alyssa Moore - RS-Jr., FWD
Gianna Creighton - Sr., MID
Glo Hinojosa - Grad., GK

Two Anteaters were named to the United Soccer Coaches All-West Region squad on Tuesday highlighted by the defense with seniors Maddy Chavez and Glo Hinojosa

The honor is the second for each in their illustrious careers after both made the cut in 2021 as part of five Anteater honorees.

Chavez, the 2021 Big West Defender of the Year and Tournament MVP, continued her dominant work on the backline in 2022 for the Anteaters, but was missed out on any award recognition. The center back was lauded in the NCAA Postseason after UCI upended No. 14 USC in the NCAA First Round, 2-0, with mention on the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week. She was part of a backline that shutout opponents 11 times en route to a Sweet Sixteen berth in the NCAA Tournament and Big West Tournament title.

Hinojosa was another important cog to that splendid Anteater defense that featured another shutout streak of over 550 minutes in 2022. Hinojosa, like Chavez, was Goalkeeper of the Year in 2021 and she was the one who claimed Big West Tournament MVP after a spotless run that saw the 6-seeded Anteaters run the table without allowing a goal. Her play picked up in the NCAA Tournament earning National Player of the Week honors after the First Round upset where she set a new career high with eight saves. She penalty shootout performance in the Second Round carried the 'Eaters through to the Third Round for the second time in program history. Her numbers were definitely gaudy in the 2022 season including playing the most minutes in the nation in net as she built on her Anteater legacy tying for the most shutouts in a season and joining the top 10 all-time in every major goalkeeper category.

The fifth-year defender and her backline shut down a potent USC attack in a 2-0 NCAA First Round win last week which was enough to score National Team of the Week honors from Top Drawer Soccer.

Chavez and the 'Eaters have win five straight matches and four straight via shutout to roll through the Big West Championship and now NCAA First Round for a second straight year. UCI enters its second round matchup approaching 500 straight minutes without allowing a goal.

The redshirt junior keeper was at it again in NCAA Tournament play leading the 'Eaters to another First Round upset downing No. 14 USC, 2-0 to help her garner National Player of the Week recognition from College Soccer News

After a career high seven saves in the upset of UCLA in 2021, she bested that with eight saves to set a new career high over the Trojans. Those saves put her in the top 10 in program history. She also matched the program record with her 11th shutout of the year as she and the defense have four straight and a shutout streak approaching 500 minutes.

A logjam of Anteater talent made up the Second Team with four players recognized. All four are honorees for the second time in their careers starting with the goalkeeper, Glo Hinojosa.

In overall play, Hinojosa's 0.889 goals-against-average is the lowest in the Big West. She's added a 0.80 GAA in Big West matchups along with a .882 save percentage, both third-best in the conference. The fifth-year Anteater played all 1,620 minutes in net and snagged 61 saves.

Joining her defensively is Alex Jaquez. A second straight year on the second team was highlighted by a goal in a win over Nicholls and four assists which tied for the team high all while playing left back for 1,377 minutes.

Another defensive-minded honoree was Gianna Creighton. The midfielder is back after a First Team honor in 2021. She upgraded her game with her first career goal helping to equalize in a draw at UC San Diego in her hometown. She added an assist as well, but really took the reins commanding the flow and tempo, and her 1,591 minutes played led all UCI field players for the second straight season.

The last of the quartet is Alyssa Moore. The dynamic forward battled injuries in her fourth season, but made all her points count. Her six on the season all came from goals with all her goals registering as game-winners toppling Cal, CSUN, and Hawai'i. She has connected for the game-winner on each of her last four goals dating back to 2021 where she was an honorable mention in All-Big West

UCI had one honorable mention with center back Kiera Smeenge making the cut. The second year Anteater was honored in 2021 as an All-Freshman Team honoree. She helped lockdown on the defensive end as part of seven shutouts on the year. She started all 17 matches she played, and was 1 of 3 field players to register over 1,400 minutes.

UCI collected on All-Freshman Team honor in the English talent, Emilie Castagna. After missing matches early, Castagna stepped in eventually playing 15 matches including a start. As an aggressor on the attack, Castagna contributed to three goals with two assists and scoring her first goal in a loss at USC. Castagna played 551 minutes in her freshman campaign including a season-high 62 in the conference opener at UC San Diego.

The Anteaters have now recorded 13 All-Freshman Team honors in the eight years since the category was created in 2014.

United Soccer Coaches posted their preseason players to watch for the 2022 season adding midfielders today including Anteater Destinee Manzo among the 38 women's soccer players recognized.

The fourth-year Anteater continued her ascent to the top of the Big West earning All-West Region Second Team honors last season stemming from four goals, two game-winners, and four assists in 2021. Manzo has added plenty to talk about off the field as well academic honors across the board and being part of Mexican National Team training and a trip to the under-20 women's World Cup with Mexico

United Soccer Coaches posted their preseason players to watch for the 2022 season adding defenders today including Anteater Maddy Chavez among those listed from women's soccer recognized.

The fifth-year Anteater has emerged as a feared presence on the back line taking home co-defender of the year in the Big West and the program’s first Big West Tournament MVP last year. In addition, she scored All-West Region honors as she returns to anchor the UCI defense that shutout top seed UCLA in the 2021 NCAA Tournament

United Soccer Coaches posted their preseason players to watch for the 2022 season starting with the goalkeepers including Anteater Glo Hinojosa among the 13 from women's soccer recognized.

Hinojosa earned All-West Region accolades for the 2021 campaign in addition to Goalkeeper of the Year and All-Big West honors from a 16-5 record, 10 shutouts, and impressive 544:57 minute shutout streak to set a program record.

2022 Women's Soccer Awards

National Player of the Week
Glo Hinojosa, RS-Jr., GK - College Soccer News

National Team of the Week
Maddy Chavez, Sr., DEF - Top Drawer Soccer
Amber Huff, Sr., MF - Top Drawer Soccer
Alyssa Moore, RS-So., MF - College Soccer News

United Soccer Coaches All-West Region
Maddy Chavez, Sr., DEF - Second Team
Glo Hinojosa, RS-Jr., GK - Third Team

All-Big West
Gianna Creighton, Jr., MF - Second Team
Glo Hinojosa, RS-Jr., GK - Second Team
Alex Jaquez, Sr., DEF - Second Team
Alyssa Moore, RS-So., FWD - Second Team
Kiera Smeenge, So., DEF - Honorable Mention
Emilie Castagna, Fr., MF - All-Freshman Team

Big West Preseason Coaches Poll - projected to finish 1st
Maddy Chavez - Big West Preseason Team

United Soccer Coaches Preseason Players to Watch
Destinee Manzo - RS-Jr., MID
Maddy Chavez - RS-Jr., DEF
Glo Hinojosa - RS-Jr., GK

Maddy Chavez earned the distinction of Scholar All-American according to the United Soccer Coaches. Chavez earned Third Team love as the first Anteater since Natalie Franklin in 2001-02 named to the CoSIDA Academic All-American squad for the program.

Chavez was a stalwart on the backline as a center back helping UCI to its magical run through to the NCAA Second Round and Big West regular season and tournament titles. Chavez was awarded All-Big West First Team and Big West Defensive Player of the Year commanding 10 clean sheets for the Anteaters this season. She also added her first career point from an assist.

Chavez's academic standing has always been prominent, and entering this season she earned numerous scholarships including the Maxine E. Nevin Leider scholarship and Houts Family Scholarship in social justice leaders category as a criminology, law, & society major.

Women's soccer's fantastic 2021 season came with more awards as a record number of honorees graced the All-West Region squad.

5 Anteaters were named, the most in a single year for UCI, joining the 27 previous ‘Eaters to make the squad. All were first-timers as the team hadn’t received all-region status since 2017

Scarlett Camberos was recognized on the first team with her historic season of 13 goals, three game-winners, seven assists, and 33 points. The Big West Offensive Player of the Year was already a First-Teamer on the All-Big West squad, and secured three Big West Offensive Player of the Week honors and one National Team of the Week.

Three Anteaters made Second Team status as the defense was represented from Glo Hinojosa, Maddy Chavez, and Destinee Manzo. Chavez and Hinojosa were first-teamers on All-Big West and garnered major conference awards heading a defense that shutout opponents 10 times and won 16 matches. Hinojosa's 10 clean sheets in net mark her second in UCI history in a single-season as she led the conference with a 0.78 goals-against-average and stopped 68 shots. Manzo was integral on the offensive side with four goals and four assists ranking third on the squad with 12 points. She began the year on the backline before working into a midfield slot, and her final assist of the season fed UCI's seismic goal that defeated No. 2 national seed UCLA in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Gianna Creighton anchored the Third Team as the program's steady holding midfielder. She registered her first point of her career on an assist, and the All-Big West First-Teamer started 39 of 40 matches since joining the program leading the team in minutes in 2021 with 1,962

2021 All-Big West Women's Soccer Team

UC Irvine women’s soccer took home three of the six major awards, while also placing a league-leading nine members on the All-Big West Teams the conference office announced Wednesday afternoon.

Scarlett Camberos (Offensive), Maddy Chavez (co-Defensive) and Glo Hinojosa (Goalkeeper) headlined the Player of the Year awards list. Camberos, Chavez and Hinojosa were also joined by Gianna Creighton on the All-Big West First Team. Alex Jaquez and Chloe Ragon garnered second-team recognition, while Alyssa Moore received an honorable mention nod. In addition, Sophie Gillies and Kiera Smeenge made the All-Freshman Team. 

Scarlett Camberos was named the Big West Offensive Player of the Year after leading the league with 12 goals and 31 points. She is also tops on the team in assists (7), shots (59) and shots on goal (36). Camberos netted more than half of her goals (8) and points (20) in conference play. The midfielder had two hat tricks in a one-week span as she struck three times at Hawai’i (Oct. 14) and at CSU Bakersfield (Oct. 21). She registered at least one point in each of the last seven regular-season matches. Her scoring surge has put her among the top-20 in all of NCAA Division I in goals (T18th) and points (T15th). Camberos is the program’s third Big West Offensive Player of the Year, and first since Noel Baham in 2017. 

Glo Hinojosa was tabbed the Big West Goalkeeper of the Year, making her one of three Anteaters all-time to win the award as she joined Maddie Newsom and Danielle de Seriere in elite company. Hinojosa ranks first in the conference in wins (13), shutouts (7), save percentage (.790) and goals against average (0.78). One of her seven clean sheets came in the program’s first victory over Pac-12 member Cal as the Anteaters defeated the Golden Bears, 1-0, in double overtime. In early October, Hinojosa put together a season-long scoreless streak of 365 minutes (Sept. 30-Oct. 14), and after back-to-back shutouts to end the regular season has built her current streak to 253:03.

Maddy Chavez was selected as the Big West co-Defensive Player of the Year. Chavez has played and started 17 games, logging 1,448 minutes on the back line. She helped the ‘Eaters to a conference-best seven shutouts, while they also rank second in goals allowed (17) and goals against average (0.93). In addition to her defensive contributions, Chavez registered her first career point with an assist at LMU on Sept. 2. Chavez brings home the program’s fourth defensive player of the year award.

Along with Camberos, Hinojosa and Chavez, midfielder Gianna Creighton earned first-team All-Big West accolades. Creighton has started all 18 games and played a team-high 1,606 minutes. She had an assist in a 6-0 win over Southern Utah, and has put three of her six shots on frame.

Chloe Ragon and Alex Jaquez were both second-team All-Big West selections. Ragon has earned the start in 17 consecutive matches, logging 1,267 minutes. She has two goals and three assists for seven points. Her second goal of the season was the game-winner in the 102nd minute of a 2-1 (2OT) non-conference victory over CSUN. Jaquez, meanwhile, has started every game, played 1,125 minutes and picked up two assists. 

Alyssa Moore, who earned an honorable mention nod, is second on the squad with five goals, four assists and 14 points. She has 32 shot attempts, 17 of which have been on goal. Moore had her first two-goal game, while also adding an assist in a 6-1 Big West win at CSUN (Oct. 24).

The Anteaters also landed two on the All-Freshman Team in Sophie Gillies and Kiera Smeenge. Gillies has started 10 of 17 games played in her first collegiate season. The forward is tied for third on the squad in goals (4), assists (3) and points (11). 

Smeenge has been a key contributor on UCI’s back line, where she has started 16 games and logged 1,114 minutes. She has played a part in all of the team’s conference-best seven shutouts, while also scoring the game-winning goal in the 98th minute of a 1-0 overtime victory at Long Beach State.

UC Irvine women’s soccer collected two more awards as Glo Hinojosa was named the Big West Defensive Player of the Week and Desiree Mendoza the Big West Freshman of the Week following their clutch performances in wins over UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly.

Starting the final week of the regular season in third place, the ‘Eaters defeated two of the conference’s top-four teams, including the then league-leading Mustangs, to pick up six points and clinch a share of the Big West title. They also earned the No. 1 seed in the upcoming tournament. 

Hinojosa anchored the defense with her sixth and seventh shutouts of the season. She had three saves in a 1-0 win over UC Santa Barbara, and returned to the pitch three days later to record four saves in a 2-0 triumph against Cal Poly. Hinojosa extended her scoreless streak to 253:03. She is currently tops in the conference in wins (13), shutouts (7), goals against average (0.78) and save percentage (.790).

Mendoza was the offensive catalyst with a goal and an assist in the 2-0 win over Cal Poly. She put the ‘Eaters on the board early, scoring the eventual game-winner on a one-timer to the far post in the seventh minute. Mendoza then assisted on UCI’s second goal, delivering a perfect corner kick into the box where Destinee Manzo rose up for the header. Mendoza also started and played 58 minutes against UCSB.

UC Irvine has combined for 13 Big West weekly awards in 2021. This is the second for Hinojosa, and third for Mendoza.

For a third time in 2021, the 'Eaters scored multiple awards during a week as Scarlett Camberos and Sophie Gillies wrangled Big West honors following an explosive, 11-goal week by the Anteater offense.

Scarlett Camberos repeated her historic week scoring four more goals in road wins at CSU Bakersfield and CSUN adding a hat trick for a second straight week. Camberos becomes the second Anteater joining Hall of Fame Nicole Bucciarelli to record multiple career hat tricks. Camberos' three goals Thursday helped toward a 5-0 victory and she even added her team-high fifth assist of 2021. She continued her scoring charge with a goal in the second minute of UCI's 6-1 win at CSUN. She continues to lead the team and now leads the conference in scoring with 12 goals and 29 points even adding her second game-winner.

Sophie Gillies registered her second Freshman of the Week honor after scoring one in the season's opening week. She scored UCI's fourth goal in the 5-0 Thursday win, and on Sunday she assisted on one of their six goals giving her 11 points on the year.

The Anteaters now have 11 total awards on the season; four times registering Offensive Player of the Week with three from Camberos, and Gillies now accounts for two of the six Freshman of the Week awards for UCI joining fellow freshmen Laila El Behery and Desiree Mendoza who each also have two awards.

For second time in 2021, the 'Eaters scored multiple awards during a week as Scarlett Camberos and Desiree Mendoza were each recognized for a second time by the Big West.

Scarlett Camberos had an historic week for the Anteaters with four goals against Hawai'i and UC Davis. Camberos put up her first hat trick on Thursday and the program's first since 2011 in a 4-1 defeat of Hawai'i. Camberos kept it rolling Sunday with a late penalty kick against UC Davis for her eighth goal of 2021. She continued to led the 'Eaters in points on the season with 20 now and 12 career goals in her fourth season.

Desiree Mendoza scored the fifth and final goal for the Anteaters on the week which turned out to be the game-winner Thursday at Hawai'i. Mendoza has scored twice in her freshman season, both accounting for game-winners, and both have resulted in Freshman of the Week honors.

The Anteaters now have nine total awards on the season; three times registering Offensive Player of the Week with two from Camberos, and Mendoza has accounted for two of five Big West Freshman of the Week honors.

A seventh weekly award for the program brought home by freshman Laila El Behery after a pair of wins and remarkable game-tying goal Thursday on the road.

El Behery was making her second start of the season at Cal State Fullerton and started the comeback with a header goal off a rebound to tie things up, 1-1, en route to the team's first Big West victory of the season. El Behery was returning from international duty with the Egyptian under-20 squad qualifying for the under-20 Women's World Cup. The freshman midfielder has made an impact in 10 of the 11 Anteater matches with two starts and now three goals and an assist in her freshman campaign with three points against Pac-12 opponents.

The Big West Freshman of the Week honor is the second honor of any kind for El Behery as she is one of three Anteaters to earn the title. Anteater freshman have earned top honors four times of the seven awards that have been given out in 2021 with the pair from El Behery joining Sophie Gillies and Desiree Mendoza.

A sixth weekly award for the program was the first Big West Defensive Player of the Week honor of 2021 to keeper Glo Hinojosa.

Hinojosa as appeared in seven matches starting six times and picking up five wins in 2021, her first five wins and two shutouts. One of the most iconic wins for the program came under her netminding control taking down unbeaten Cal, 1-0, in double overtime last Thursday for the first time in program history. Hinojosa and the defense allowed just three of 14 shots to be on frame which Hinojosa stopped all three. She's ridden her performances to 23 saves and the conference's best goals-against-average at 1.03 to this point.

Anteaters have taken home an award now it four of five weeks and each of the last three weeks with Hinojosa's accolade. The fourth-year keeper from Chula Vista joins Laila El Behery, Sophie Gillies, Scarlett Camberos, and Desiree Mendoza on the season

A fifth weekly award for the program was earned by freshman Laila El Behery scoring the lone goal in a loss to undefeated Oregon State last week.

El Behery has seen the pitch in all seven matches in 2021 off the bench, but made immediate impacts assisting in her collegiate debut in the season opener for her first career point and the only goal scored to date this year against UCLA, and followed that up with her first career goal as part of a 6-0 rout of Southern Utah in the home opener. In a one-game week last week. the Egyptian national came on late to score a goal in the 86th minute off an Amber Huff corner kick to edge the 'Eaters closer to the Beavers at the time, 2-1.

The Big West Freshman of the Week honor is the first honor of any kind for El Behery as she is now the third Anteater to earn the title of the four awards that have been given out in 2021 joining Sophie Gillies and Desiree Mendoza. UCI has now collected awards in each of the last two weeks, and of the nine awards dished out, five have been claimed by Anteaters.

Two Anteaters took home Big West Player of the Week honors following wins at LMU and home vs. Cal State Fullerton with Scarlett Camberos as the top offensive player and Desiree Mendoza the top freshman.

Camberos was honored for the first time as player of the week. She was All-Big West Second Team as a sophomore, and began 2021 as part of the Preseason All-Big West team. Camberos scored her first brace Sunday evening including the game-winning while down a player to top Cal State Fullerton. She added an assist in Thursday's win giving her a point in three straight matches, points in four of six matches total, and multiple points in three matches.. Camberos leads all 'Eaters in goals with four and points with. She continues to be the active Anteater leader in goals, assists, and points with eight, five, and 21, respectively, for the third-year Anteater

Mendoza scored her first career points on Thursday's game-winning goal against LMU to help collect her first player of the week honor. The top freshman joins Sophie Gillies as Anteater award winners in 2021. Mendoza is six matches into her Anteater career with starts in three of them including both last week.

Sophie Gillies pulled the double in the opening week of the 2021 soccer season named Big West Offensive Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week when she posted five points in her first two career matches.

Gillies started both matches in her first two career games, and provided the lone goal in the opener at No. 5 UCLA. She teamed up with another freshman, Laila El Behery, to score in the 89th minute and draw UCLA closer in the end with the 3-1 defeat.

The English forward added a goal and assist on Sunday helping toward a 6-0 victory over Southern Utah in the home opener. Gillies assisted on the opening goal by Chloe Ragon in the 14th minute and came back in the 16th minute to direct home a cross from Scarlett Camberos.

Gillies takes home the very first Big West Freshman of the Week award for Big West women's soccer. She is the program's first Big West Offensive Player of the Week in 2018 and first freshman to take home any award since Sydney Carr in 2017.

With the regular season one week away, The Big West posted its Preseason Coaches Poll and Preseason All-Big West team with a pair of Anteaters among the 11 players listed, and the Anteaters picked to finish in a tie for third among the 11 programs.

Much like the 2019 season, the Big West coaches projected the 'Eaters to finish third. For the fourth straight season, UCI has been picked to finish within the top four and a spot in the Big West Tournament. One thing to note, the 'Eaters collected four first-place votes among the 11 polls which stands as the most in the conference.

The preseason team is flushed with Anteaters as well as Scarlett Camberos and Gianna Creighton earned honors on the 11-player preseason squad. It's the first honor for each, and join the trio of ‘Eaters named to the team in 2019 - Maddie Newsom, Jessica Miclat, and Aleah Kelley. UCI is joined by Hawai’i and Cal State Fullerton as programs with multiple preseason honorees

Camberos is in her fourth year at UCI and starting her third season of play. She led the program in goals with four and points with 11 in 2019 helping her make All-Big West Second Team. The attacking mid also earned Dean's List recognition over the past schoolyear where she and her fellow Anteaters and Big West soccer opponents did not compete.

Creighton earns high praise entering her sophomore season on the pitch. She didn't make the stat sheet as a freshman, but logged nearly 1,500 minutes as a wing back starting all 17 matches she played in.

2021 Women's Soccer Awards

2021 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women's Scholar All-America Teams
Maddy Chavez - Jr., DEF, Third Team

2021 NCAA Division I Women's All-West Region
First Team
Scarlett Camberos

Second Team
Glo Hinojosa
Maddy Chavez
Destinee Manzo

Third Team
Gianna Creighton

Big West Offensive Player of the Year: Scarlett Camberos

Big West Goalkeeper of the Year: Glo Hinojosa

co-Big West Defensive Player of the Year: Maddy Chavez

All-Big West
First Team
Scarlett Camberos
Maddy Chavez
Gianna Creighton
Glo Hinojosa

Second Team
Alex Jaquez
Chloe Ragon

Honorable Mention
Alyssa Moore

All-Freshman Team
Sophie Gillies
Kiera Smeenge

TopDrawerSoccer.com Team of the Week
Nov. 16 - Glo Hinojosa, Player of the Week
Nov. 9 - Kiera Smeenge (Honorable Mention)
Nov. 2 - Maddy Chavez, Glo Hinojosa (Honorable Mention)
Oct. 26 - Scarlett Camberos

Big West Offensive Player of the Week
Sophie Gillies - Fr., FWD (August 16-22)
Scarlett Camberos - Jr., MID (August 30-September 5)
Scarlett Camberos - Jr., MID (October 11-17)
Scarlett Camberos - Jr., MID (October 18-24)

Big West Defensive Player of the Week
Glo Hinojosa  - RS-So., GK (September 13-19)
Glo Hinojosa - RS-So., GK (October 25-31)

Big West Freshman of the Week
Sophie Gillies - Fr., FWD (August 16-22)
Desiree Mendoza - Fr., FWD (August 30-September 5)
Laila El Behery - Fr., MID (September 6-12)
Laila El Behery - Fr., MID (September 27-October 3)
Desiree Mendoza - Fr., FWD (October 11-17)
Sophie Gillies - Fr., FWD (October 18-24)
Desiree Mendoza - Fr., FWD (October 25-31)

Preseason All-Big West
Scarlett Camberos - Jr., MF
Gianna Creighton - So., MF