Men’s Soccer: The Power of unity

Steve Virgen

Call them the best-kept secret of Orange County soccer in 2000.

The Anteaters, the UC Irvine men’s soccer team, finished 12-8-1

overall last season, matching the program’s highest-ever win total and

best winning percentage since 1984. They also made their first postseason

appearance, while reaching a 22-game scoring streak.

But, as UCI Coach George Kuntz said, the Anteaters got no respect.

This year, Kuntz added, will be different.

“This team has gotten no press,” Kuntz said. “This has been the most

quiet team in the area, and yet last year they were breaking every

record. They get no respect and no press. And you know what? I like it

that way. I like it that way because they’re good guys. And when it

rains, it’s going to pour. They deserve it. This is the year they deserve

to reap all the rewards and dedication that they’ve put in for this game,

community, school and for this program. They’ve done a lot.”

They’ve done a lot in the offseason. Kuntz said the Anteaters

completed one of the best offseasons he’s seen in his seven years at the

school.

The Anteaters have been breaking records in the fitness tests Kuntz

conducts. Most of the team ran two miles in less than 11 minutes, some less than 10 and a half.

UCI also played the under-20 U.S. National team and a squad made up of

Los Angeles Galaxy reserves. Kuntz said the team fared quite well against

both.

Yet, the greatest strength of the team is its unity, Kuntz said. The

friendships on the team has resulted in a passing game mentality. The

unity has also sparked great confidence for the upcoming season.

“It’s an exciting team to watch,” Kuntz said with a smile. “They have

a fun energy about them. This team plays well and looks like they’re

having fun doing it. This is a very tight-knit group. They’re like

brothers. This is the closest team I’ve been around since I’ve been at

UCI.”

The closeness comes from continuity. UCI returns six of its top eight

scorers, led by senior forward and 2000 Moutain Pacific Sports Federation

first-team selection Jon Spencer, who collected 12 goals and six assists

for 30 points, the second-highest point total for a season in school

history.

Kuntz said Spencer’s year last season will only make his other players

more effective.

“People won’t be able to key on Jon Spencer,” Kutnz said. “He’s not

going to be the guy that everyone is going to be able to isolate and

mark. There are other guys who can step it up when the opportunity

arises. For us that’s the whole gameplan, to have some one step up.”

Those who will look to step up are junior midfielder Scott Bowman, who

tallied two goals and a team-leading seven assists, and first-team MPSF

pick and senior Lawrence Smalls. The Anteaters also have junior Brad

Aspey returning and he brought home MPSF second-team honors last year,

mostly because of his stellar defense.

Junior college transfer David Rawlings adds another dimension. The

junior is from Yuvapai College, where soccer is the main show. Kuntz said

the college hosts up 5,000 for its soccer games and Yuvapai is one of the

top community college soccer programs in the country.

Also featured on the team is Corona del Mar High product Danny

Marshall a freshman who is slated as a defender. Matt Mosely, another

local player, is improving quickly and adjusting to Division I soccer

after spending two years at Orange Coast College.

“Danny Marshall is playing well,” Kuntz said. “He has the potential to

be a very good defender in this league.”

Also, the Big West Conference makes its return to men’s soccer this

season. UCI will join five other schools and face each squad twice,

incluing Cal Poly, UC Santa Barbara, UC Riverside, Cal State Norhtridge

and Cal State Fullerton.

The Anteaters begin by hosting Fort Wayne, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m.

UC Irvine Men’s Soccer

0 Garret Lenox, goalkeeper Jr.

00 Ryan Mathy, goalkeeper Fr.

1 C.J. Cooper, goalkeeper Sr.

2 Sean Gesell, defender Sr.

3 Joel Spencer, midfielder Jr.

4 Danny Marshall, defender Fr.

5 Lawrence Smalls, midfielder Sr.

6 Frankie Clay, defender Jr.

7 Jason Thompson, midfielder Jr.

8 Saul Wolf, defender Sr.

9 David Rawlings, forward Jr.

10 Jon Spencer, forward Sr.

11 Scott Bowman, midfielder Jr.

12 Robby Busick, defender Fr.

13 Jon Paul Roepke, midfielder Jr.

14 Sebastian Galmarini, forward So.

15 David Yemane, midfielder So.

16 Matt Elston, defender So.

17 Dardo Acuna, midfielder Fr.

18 Cameron Rossi, goalkeeper Fr.

19 Ben Bush, defender So.

20 Josh Brown, defender Fr.

21 Travis Cutler, defender So.

22 Jesse Peron, midfielder Jr.

23 Brad Aspey, defender Jr.

24 Jeff Hamilton, defender So.

25 Ilia Nazarov, forward Sr.

26 Nate Chu, midfielder Fr.

27 Anthony Vizcarra, midfielder So.

28 Chris Ruiz, defender So.

29 Matt Mosely, midfielder Jr.

30 Lerato Simelane, forward So.

Luke Ollett, forward Fr.

David Fanous, defender Jr.

Zach Mikelson, goalkeeper Fr.

Gerald Morel, goalkeeper Jr.

*tentative roster

Coach: George Kuntz (Seventh season)

Assistant coaches: Chris Volk (Fifth season) and Demian Brown (Third

season)