Men's Soccer Starts 2026 at Home with #19 Oregon State, LMU

THIS WEEK IN ANTEATER SOCCER

UC Irvine Anteaters (11-4-6, 4-0-5 Big West) vs. #19 Oregon State Beavers (10-5-2, 6-1-2 WCC)
Anteater Stadium (2,500) - Irvine, Calif.
Thursday - 6:00 PM | ESPN+ | Live Stats

UC Irvine Anteaters (11-4-6, 4-0-5 Big West) vs. LMU Lions (5-6-7, 1-3-5 WCC)
Anteater Stadium (2,500) - Irvine, Calif.
Monday - 6:00 PM | ESPN+ | Live Stats

Promotional Schedule

Storylines

+ Leading the Anteaters into 2026 are four All-Big West returners with a pair of newcomers to last year's squad making the grade, Joe O'Shaughnessy as honorable mention and Gustavo Gonzalez on All-Freshman, along with Isaac Powell honorable mention and Brady Treinen first team who each were named to the Big West Championship All-Tournament Team and All-Far West Region.
+ Returning Anteaters account for 68% of last year's minutes or a total of 14,363. Of UCI's 11 game-winning goals from 2025, 10 of those goals return for 2026
+ In addition to the 14 returners, UC Irvine brings in 14 newcomers to the mix. Five transfers are among them including a familiar face, Cade Williams, who was an Anteater freshman in 2024 before spending a year at Irvine Valley College
+ Other transfers who ventured a little farther including a pair of senior Spaniards with midfielder Ferri Duran Noms and defender Mario Nordstrom. Two four-year transfers from stateside include high-flying attacker Royie Rahamim who begins his sophomore season after a year with Robert Morris and originally from Australia. Fifth-year keeper Scott Williams adds some competition to the goal after playing for both New Hampshire and Virginia
+ The Anteaters were a streaky club in 2025 recording a pair of unbeaten streaks of six or more matches including an 11-match unbeaten streak to match the program record. UCI also finished unbeaten in home matches (9-0-3), on weekends (4-0-3), one-goal games (7-0), and went 11-0-4 when scoring first and 7-0-4 when leading at half
+ The Big West is new gaining schools Utah Valley and California Baptist, losing UC Davis, and joining up with the Pac-12's remaining teams; San Diego State, Gonzaga, and Oregon State
+ UCI played an exhibition at UCLA coming away with a 1-0 victory. Zac Smuck scored in the 64th minute to seal it. UCI used 23 players including 10 newcomers, were out-shot 9-7, but had four shots on target to UCLA's one.

Thursday vs. the Beavers
+ Oregon State reached the NCAAs going 10-5-2 and falling to the eventual champions, Washington
+ The sides are deadlocked all-time at 4-4-1 with OSU winning the last round in 2024 at home
+ The Beavers lose their top seven goal scorers, return seven total goals from 2025, bring back junior keeper John Nicolson who played every minute, and dress four Spaniards of their own

Monday vs. the Lions
+ LMU finished 5-6-7 with one WCC win in 2025
+ UCI has the series lead at 17-12-2, but LMU had the last laugh taking the 2023 NCAA First Round match, 4-2, en route to a Quarterfinal appearance
+ The Lions return three of their top four scorers, leader in assists, junior keeper Philip Hovers who played every minute in 2025, and are coached by 'Eater alum Kyle Schmid since 2018

Schedule