Anteaters Host Undefeated Missouri State Saturday

THIS WEEK IN ANTEATER SOCCER

UC Irvine Anteaters (2-0-1) vs. [RV] Missouri State Bears (3-0)
Anteater Stadium - Irvine, Calif.
Saturday - 6:00 PM | ESPN+ | Live Stats

Promotional Schedule

Storylines

+ The Anteaters claimed their first award of 2026 as freshman Javier Bedolla Vera was honored as Big West Rookie of the Week. The Newark-native played near his hometown in Stockton Sunday night, and capped off a 3-0 win with his first career point and goal on an 88th-minute penalty

+ Gage Lyons extended his scoring streak with a goal in all three matches so far in 2026. He has seven points among the Big West leaders, leads the conference with 2.3 points per game, and his 3.67 shots on goal per contest is second nationally

+ UCI's offense has been electric and consistent topping the Big West with nine goals, 10 assists, and eight shots on goal per game. UCI's three-game streak of scoring three goals is just the fourth time in program history joining the 1994, 2006, and 2018 squads

+ Scott Williams made his UC Irvine debut in net scoring a shutout win. The sixth-year keeper was injured for his first four years before getting a shot last season at New Hampshire. He now has four wins and six shutouts. Together with Joe O'Shaughnessy, UCI in net has a total .750 save percentage and 1.33 goals-against-average

+ More debuts were made totaling 10 new Anteaters to play and seven to make collegiate debuts. Williams was one of those Anteater debuts Sunday along with Ferran Duran transferring for his fifth year from Spain coming on as a second half reserve.

Last Week

+ Monday night featured UCI's first win getting two first-half goals on LMU before the Lions got one back early in the second half. UCI used a VAR challenge to reverse a call and claim their third and game-sealing goal in the 68th minute.

+ Sunday night was UCI's first road match and a resounding 3-0 win. Gage Lyons knocked home Brady Treinen's cross in the ninth minute, Marcus Lee made it 2-0 in the 71st, and Javier Bedolla Vera put home an 88th-minute penalty at Pacific.

+ Tuesday marks new college soccer rankings with UC Irvine included receiving two votes. The 'Eaters hit the rankings for two weeks in 2025 reaching as high as No. 20. Their Saturday opponent Missouri State is receiving five votes.

Saturday vs. the Bears

+ Missouri State is on the edge of the rankings with a 3-0 start and a 11-2 goal differential which includes a win over historically good Penn State

+ All-time this is the fourth meeting and first at UCI. They played to a pair of neutral site draws in 2005 and 2012 before a 3-0 drubbing from No. 19 Missouri State at their place in 2022

+ The Bears have a very international roster with just one American. Spaniards Diego Real (2 G, 2 A) and Alex Rodriguez (1 G, 2 A) and Portuguese Daniel Souza (2 G) have driven the offense with another Portuguese national Fernando Alves Schmelz and English national Danny Cullum in net together collecting five saves so far

Schedule