Anteater Update: August 31
8/31/2026
August 31, 2026
National Rankings
Men's Water Polo - No. 13
• Men's soccer had its third straight three-goal game to start the season with a Sunday night 3-0 win over Pacific. Gage Lyons scored the opener and game-winner in the ninth minute off a brilliant Brady Treinen cross, Marcus Lee finished a tactically-sound team goal to go up 2-0 in the 71st minute, and the cherry on top was a penalty goal in the 88th minute by Javier Bedolla Vera for his first career goal and point for the freshman. Scott Williams made his Anteater debut in net pitching the shutout on two saves for the sixth-year keeper, and Spanish transfer Ferran Duran made his UCI debut as well. UCI has a big test this week as undefeated Missouri State comes to Anteater Stadium for a 6:00 p.m. matchup on Saturday, September 5.
• Women's soccer played twice last week with a 2-0 loss at Washington State and ending the week with a dramatic, late-game equalizer by Chifumi Sasaki Sunday for a 1-1 draw vs. Grand Canyon. They head to Southern Utah for their only upcoming match this week on Thursday, September 3 and a 3:00 p.m. PT kickoff.
• Men’s water polo opened the 2026 campaign with a 3-1 record at the season-opening UCI Invitational this past weekend. The ’Eaters got off to a strong start Friday morning, defeating Chapman, 29-4, while setting a program record for goals scored in a single game. UCI continued its momentum later that afternoon with a 13-9 victory over George Washington. The Anteaters faced their toughest test of the weekend Saturday morning, falling to No. 3 Stanford, 22-12. UCI quickly bounced back, closing out the weekend on a high note with a 16-9 win over Concordia. Senior attacker Johann Thrall led the ’Eaters offensively with 15 points on 11 goals and four assists, while senior attacker Gage Verdegaal added 11 points on nine goals and two assists. Freshman goalkeeper Nico Assalian also made an impressive collegiate debut, posting a 3-1 record in his first weekend of action. Assalian recorded 36 saves in 104:00 minutes, finished with a 10.46 goals-against average, and contributed six assists and two steals. The ’Eaters return to action this weekend at the Inland Empire Classic. UCI will face Redlands and Cal Lutheran on Sept. 4 before taking on Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and Pomona-Pitzer on Sept. 5.
• Women's volleyball went 0-3 against stiff competition at the season-opening Husky Invitational in Seattle this past weekend. The Anteaters fell to Big Ten member Washington, IU Indy, and San Diego State, which is in its first year in the new Pac-12. Outside hitter Madison Triplett led UC Irvine in kills in all three matches, averaging 2.50 per set. Libero Tata Vongfak also registered a team-best 3.00 digs per set. UCI is back in action this week, traveling to the Central Valley for the Bulldog Invitational where it will face New Mexico State (Sept. 3), Southern Utah (Sept. 4), and Fresno State (Sept. 5).
• Cross country is ready to kick off the 2026 campaign at the Aztec Coastal Classic in San Diego on Thursday, Sept. 3. The men's 7K race is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start, while the women's 5K will follow at 6:30 p.m.
August 25, 2026
National Rankings
Men's Water Polo - No. 13
• Men's soccer began their 2026 season with a bang drawing with No. 19 Oregon State, 3-3, Thursday night in Anteater Stadium. Goals from Gage Lyons, Isaac Powell, and Cristian Gallo helped power the ‘Eaters. They returned for a Monday night matchup defeating LMU, 3-1, on the back of Brady Treinen’s two assists and a game-winning goal and assist by Gage Lyons. UCI heads out on the road to play at Pacific on Sunday, August 30 at 7:00 p.m.
• Men's basketball completed their international trip at the William Jones Cup in Taiwan with a second-place finish. UCI finished top of their pool with a 6-0 record, and rode a 21-point game by Tama Isaac to a semifinal win over Chinese Taipei Blue before falling to the professional side, Wonju DB New Generation from South Korea in the final, 98-78.
• Women's soccer took on the No. 1 team in the nation falling at their place, 6-0. The 'Eaters are back on the road at Pac-12 side Washington State Thursday, August 27 at 6:00 p.m. before a Sunday 1:00 p.m. match in Anteater Stadium vs. Grand Canyon to finish the week.
• After hosting exhibition matches against No. 20 USC and Concordia University Irvine, the Anteater women's volleyball team will officially kick off the 2026 season this weekend. UCI heads to Seattle where it will face the University of Washington (Aug. 28), IU Indy (Aug. 29), and San Diego State (Aug. 30).
• Men's water polo opens the 2026 season this weekend, Aug. 28-29, by hosting the UCI Invitational at Anteater Aquatics Complex. The Anteaters will face Chapman, George Washington, Stanford, and Concordia over the two-day tournament. UC Irvine enters the season ranked No. 13 in the preseason CWPA national poll and was picked to finish second in the Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll. Junior Cole Francisco also earned a spot on the Big West All-Preseason Team ahead of the 2026 campaign.
August 17, 2026
• The first competitive action of the 2026-27 school year came from women's soccer who opened at home vs. Utah Tech last Wednesday with a 1-1 draw. The 'Eaters also hosted a pair of exhibition matches with a 0-0 draw vs. Big XII side Arizona followed by a 5-1 win against University Drive rival Concordia Irvine. Coming up next is a trip to face the No. 1 team in the nation and the 2025 NCAA runner-up, Stanford, Sunday at 1:00 p.m..
• Men's basketball took off on their journey back to the William Jones Cup in Taiwan after winning the tournament back in 2023. UCI plays six pool play matches before the medal rounds begin on August 21 against teams from Chinese Taipei, Japan, Philippines, Jordan, and Malaysia. The ‘Eaters are three games in securing wins over Chinese Taipei’s White team (88-67), Jordan (84-66), and Malaysia (87-55), and will play each one of them again on August 18 and 19 ahead of the medal rounds.
• Women's volleyball will host Concordia in their second and final exhibition match this Saturday, Aug. 22. First serve is set for 3 p.m. at the Bren Events Center. Admission is complimentary.
• Men's soccer has also played some exhibitions starting last week when they went to UCLA and came away with a 1-0 victory on a 64th-minute goal by Zac Smuck. UCI hosted a semi-pro side defeating them in a scrimmage-style matchup. Next on the horizon are the real matches starting Thursday, August 20 in Anteater Stadium with No. 19 Oregon State coming to town for a 6:00 p.m. kickoff. UCI will also host LMU on Monday, August 24, at 6:00 p.m. in its opening week.
