Women's Soccer Hosts Utah Tech, Concordia to Open 2026

THIS WEEK IN ANTEATER SOCCER

UC Irvine Anteaters (8-5-7, 5-2-3 Big West) vs. Utah Tech Trailblazers (8-7-5, 4-4-2 WAC)
Anteater Stadium (2,500) - Irvine, Calif.
Wednesday - 6:00 PM | ESPN+ | Live Stats

Exhibition
UC Irvine Anteaters (8-5-7, 5-2-3 Big West) vs. Concordia Irvine Golden Eagles (10-3-4 Division II)
Anteater Stadium (2,500) - Irvine, Calif.
Saturday - 6:00 PM

Promotional Schedule

Storylines

+ Leading the Anteaters into 2026 are three All-Big West returners with honorable mention honorees junior forward Clara Samson and junior defender Hailey Clingan joined by All-Freshman Team forward a year ago, Fiona Shin

+ Returning Anteaters produced four goals and 17 points last season of the team's total of 24 goals and 70 points. Clara Samson is 1 of 4 student-athletes on the roster with a goal in their career as an Anteater and the only with multiple goals (2).

+ UCI's roster of 32 players has produced a total of 21 points while in an Anteater uniform led by Chifumi Sasaki's six points (1 G, 4 A) and five points each from Clara Samson and Fiona Shin

Fifth-year Anteater and captain Savanna Arruda is 1 of 4 goalkeepers on the roster and the only with collegiate experience posting 531 minutes in goal for the 'Eaters with career marks of a 1-2-3 record, two shutouts, a 0.68 GAA, and a .840 save percentage

+ Defensive experience begins with captain Hailey Clingan who is the only returning defender with a start in her career posting 2,029 minutes as an Anteater in 31 career matches and 20 starts

Third captain on the squad is Jenika Davis returns for her fifth season at UCI and three seasons removed from overcoming Acute Myeloid Leukemia. The forward is looking to make a significant impact after registering 117 minutes over the last two seasons in her road to recovery

+ Reinforcements join the program in four transfers including a trio from Power 4 programs. Mimi Dominguez was All-Big West as a freshman at UC Riverside before a season in the SEC at Kentucky. UCI lost Kori Pickelle to the University of Utah and in return got San Jose-native and key midfielder Mimi Yamamoto from Utah. A winter admit, Oona Hartman brings her experience after two years at Arizona State. Sara Paul brings experience to the goalkeeper room as a grad transfer coming from CSUB. Back for her second year with UCI is another four-year transfer Ariane Haysman Boaler from the University of Oregon

Wednesday vs. the Trailblazers

+ Utah Tech went 8-7-5 in 2025 and were third in the WAC averaging nearly two goals a match

+ This will be the first meeting between the schools. All-time in season openers, UCI holds an even record of 19-19-3 winners of four in a row

+ Key Trailblazers include four all-conference returners and WAC Freshman of the Year Jocelyn Wright as 11 of the team's top 13 point scorers are back for to the squad. UTU's keeper Brianna Frey departs after playing every minute of 2025

Saturday Exhibition vs. the Golden Eagles

+ Concordia won 10 games in Division II in 2025. They scored 25 goals led by returner Bella Barrett's eight. Keeper Riley Urquiza departs after allowing just seven goals in 17 games last season.

+ UCI hosted Arizona in an exhibition resulting in a 0-0 draw where UCI held 75% possession

Schedule