'Eaters Host Anti-Cancer Challenge Match Thursday vs. San Diego

THIS WEEK IN ANTEATER SOCCER

UC Irvine Anteaters (1-2-2) vs. San Diego Toreros (2-2-2)
Anteater Stadium - Irvine, Calif.
Thursday - 6:00 PM | ESPN+ | Live Stats

Promotional Schedule

Anti-Cancer Challenge Match
Just five games into her freshman season, Jenika Davis was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. The UC Irvine Women's Soccer team and Anteater family rallied behind her, creating #TeamJenika to find a match for a blood stem cell transplant. With her as their inspiration, the Anteaters won another conference championship and after the season, Jenika found her match and underwent chemotherapy.

With her cancer in remission, we continue to support Jenika and have joined the UCI Anti-Cancer Challenge to support cancer research.

Jenika's bravery and resilience drives us to continue making a difference in the fight against cancer. Together, we strive to bring hope and healing to all those affected.

Storylines

+ The Anteaters have saved their best for late in their matches. All three goals scored have come in the final 15 minutes of the match including Chifumi Sasaki's 86th-minute equalizer vs. Grand Canyon and Mimi Dominguez's game-winner at Southern Utah sliding in at the 85th minute.

+ More firsts came through in Cedar City starting with Dominguez's first UCI goal and point. Oona Hartman earned her first-ever point and the team's first assist of 2026 in Thursday's win.

+ Savanna Arruda stepped up with three saves, all needing maximum effort, in Thursday's win. It was her second career win and third career shutout and has captured 15 of her 36 career saves this season

+ Twelve collegiate debuts have been made thus far including second-year defender Malaina Duro in the starting XI for the season opener and contributing each match. Mia Rodriguez, another second-year, did so off the bench beginning at Stanford. Together, all 12 debutantes have played 1,800 minutes with a collective 17 starts.

+ Ten 'Eaters have made collegiate debuts in 2026 joining the second-year Anteaters to do so are eight true freshmen - Lianna Tsabur, Isabella Meric, Elizabeth Hayes, Cam LawsonKitchen, Samara Maldonado, Allison Rabe, Olivia Stark, Taylor Esparza, and Keira Baranski with the tenth coming Sunday vs. Grand Canyon when Iriana Griffin entered in the second half.

Last Week Recap

+ Southern Utah hosted the 'Eaters for the first time since 2008. UCI maintained majority of possession, but the match stayed scoreless until UCI's winner in the 86th minute. Each keeper needed to make a spectacular save just minutes prior to keep their team even

Thursday vs. the Toreros

+ San Diego is standing at 2-2-2 entering their match vs. UC Irvine. They've earned draws with Cal State Fullerton and Cal Poly while beating Cal State Bakersfield, and they've added a 2-0 loss to No. 20 UCLA and a win over California

+ All-time, USD holds a 13-9-3 lead in the series. UCI's last win came in 2018 going 0-2-2 since then including draws in each of the last two seasons.

+ The Toreros have just three goals through six matches and have allowed only four with USD and its opponents each averaging around 10 shots per match. Leading Torero shooter senior Tania Graham has been held without a point while freshman Mia Teran has a goal and an assist to lead the way and the only other goal in the run of play coming from defender, Hannah Faklaris. Sophomore keeper Chloe Walls has 17 saves and kept three clean sheets

Coach Espejel and the FIFA U20WWC

+ Assistant coach Wendy Espejel has begun her under-20 Women's World Cup journey with Mexico. The tournament in Poland started Saturday with a 2-2 draw vs. Benin.

Schedule