5 Things To Know: 2026 Men's Soccer Preview

Tuesday, August 11

Los Angeles, Calif.

7:30 PM

UC Irvine

UCLA (Exhibition)

Photo by: Jake Hamlin

5 Things To Know: 2026 Men's Soccer Preview

August 09, 2026 | Men's Soccer

By: Alex Roberts-Croteau

UC Irvine men's soccer begins the defense of their Big West titles in 2025 with exhibition soccer this week at UCLA Tuesday night.

Reigning Big West Coach of the Year Yossi Raz reflects on the 2025 successes, breaks down who is back for another season, the newest Anteaters, and five keys to know for the upcoming season:

LOOK WHERE WE'VE BEEN

The 2025 Anteaters were special starting with unbeaten streaks to start the year at 5-0-1 to the 11-match unbeaten streak that carried the 'Eaters through a 4-0-5 Big West regular season title and Big West Championship title culminating in a 2-1 victory at UC Santa Barbara, the sixth title of each variety
UCI advanced to the NCAA Tournament for an eighth time in program history and third time under coach Raz which ultimately ended in the first round at Denver
The 'Eaters earned five All-Far West Region honors including two players back for more - Brady Treinen and Isaac Powell - who were also named to United Soccer Coaches Players to Watch list for their positions this past week

PILLARS OF THE PROGRAM

Something new for 2026 is the YouTube series from the mind of head coach Yossi Raz - Pillars of the Program. A series that captures every part of the program starting with sports performance and strength training from the first two episodes that have been released with more to come throughout the season.

RETURNING TO FORM

Fourteen Anteaters return from the Big West regular season and championship title-winning squad from a year ago including seven starters. In all, 14,363 minutes are back from last year's roster which accounts for 68% of the play time in 2025.
After five goals scored and 11 points, both good for second on the squad, Gage Lyons returns for his collegiate senior season. He also scored three game-winners, the only player last year with multiple game-winners, which included the winner in the 1-0 Big West Semifinal victory over Cal Poly
Speaking of game-winners, UCI had 11 of them in 2025. As mentioned, Lyons returns with his three, and in all 10 game-winners return to the program.
Newcomers that stepped up last year have a high bar to clear in their second season. Gustavo Gonzalez helped man the backline alongside captain and Big West Championship MVP, Nolan DiCenzo. He even scored once proving to be a game-winner. Another freshman, Zac Smuck played in 20 matches and added three goals. Hunny Yoo scored his first Anteater goal to win the Big West Final along with four assists. Joe O'Shaughnessy in net played all but 45 minutes, 12th in the NCAA, and was part of nine shutouts, all 11 wins, and sported a 0.878 goals-against-average.

FEELING FRESH

The other 14 Anteaters on the roster are brand new this season with some brand new to the U.S. and others brand new to the college scene altogether
"We are excited for the 2026 we're adding to our locker room. A few are joining us after concluding their development process at some of the best youth organizations in North America bringing with them a diverse set of qualities. Others are internation talents that bring maturity and loads of experience to the field adding a high cognitive elements to our game."
- Two that stand out right away are a pair of Spaniards, both in their fifth years of college-level soccer. Graduate transfer Ferri Duran comes from Catalonia and just outside Barcelona as an experienced midfielder. Mario Nordstrom finally makes it to the American game after he was unable to during the COVID year and brings his talents as a defender from Alicante, South down the coast from Barcelona
- A striker that spent last season stateside after growing up in Australia is Royie Rahamim. One of the top 100 freshmen a year ago while playing at Robert Morris University he put home four goals and assisting two others.
- A couple of freshmen join the 'Eaters from outside the U.S. starting with Vinny Levasseur. A defender that grew up in Montreal, Canada and excelled with CS Saint-Laurent got some American experience at high school in Connecticut. Goalkeeper Benjamin Martin started out in the U.S. in Washington until age three where he moved with his family to Peru where he's honed his craft with hometown club Deportivo Municipal and some time with top club in the country, Alianza Lima.
- Another goalkeeper has landed at UCI after a five whirlwind years out East. Scott Williams, an Ohio native, spent three years battling injuries at the University of Virginia before moving on to the University of New Hampshire where he finally got to play last season, and even made the trip when UCI hosted the Wildcats to see his future home
- Another addition is both a newcomer and returner. Cade Williams was a midfielder for the Anteaters his freshman year in 2024 before hopping over to Irvine Valley College last season where he was an all-conference player and Scholar All-American
- The rest of the incoming bunch brings its strengths like Max Parore with his New Zealand background or Pierce Rizzo joining after a successful youth career with USL side Phoenix Rising FC. Matthew Miranda and Bobby Jacobs are a skilled duo both from nearby Mater Dei High School while Kenshi Pivernetz is of Japanese descent and tangled with that duo playing in Long Beach and Los Alamitos High School. Another lethal duo of Javier Bedolla Vera and James Arteaga were Winter admits and have had all Spring to acclimate to coach Raz's program.
"All of the newcomers are exceptional human beings with outstanding foundational values. We are certain that they will represent our university and the athletic department with the utmost respect. Together with our returning group, we believe that UCI will continue to play joyful entertaining futbol, especially on our renovated, top-of-the-line stadium surface. We hope to see our community there while we host different powerhouses at Anteater Stadium."

HOME IMPROVEMENT

As coach Raz mentioned, the playing surface is completely re-sodded, re-leveled, and redone with lots of excitement on the pitch and now for the pitch itself in Anteater Stadium with 'Eaters able to play on the same surface used across the continent this summer at the 2026 World Cup
The excitement also comes in the form of the challenging schedule UC Irvine squares up against both at home and away from it
- In the non-conference, not much better than beginning with a ranked team that reached the NCAA Tournament a year ago with No. 19 Oregon State visiting for the home opener. The Beavers and Anteaters are also 4-4-1 in their all-time series, and they are now conference mates after the Big West and Pac-12 joined forces
- The big names continue to challenge with the likes of LMU, coaches by 'Eater alum Kyle Schmid, a perennial power Missouri State, another ranked foe in preseason No. 18 San Diego, and old Big West foe UNLV
- As mentioned before, the Big West and Pac-12 have joined together for two, seven-team conferences starting this year in men's soccer. UCI remains in the Big West, which itself added full-time members like Utah Valley, California Baptist, and Sacramento State and lost men's soccer program UC Davis, but the Pac-12 will also be part of UCI's schedule. Big West sides like Cal Poly, UC Riverside, and UC San Diego join the Pac-12 and sides like Gonzaga, Oregon State, and San Diego State to battle with the 'Eaters. The Big West matchups for UCI now include UVU, Sac State, and Cal State Bakersfield and programs to visit Anteater Stadium this year, UC Santa Barbara, CSUN, and Cal State Fullerton