UCI ready to rumble

Steve Virgen

ANTEATER STADIUM -- Defense. That’s the key word associated with

the UC Irvine men’s soccer team, as the Anteaters prepare for the

upcoming season.

Defense, after all, is what led Irvine to break four school

records and a Big West Conference runner-up finish last year. The

Anteaters went 10-4-6, 6-1-3 in the Big West and collected 21 league

points, one point behind champion UC Santa Barbara.

And the records: Irvine went unbeaten in 10 straight games, a feat

that had never been accomplished in the 18-year history of UCI men’s

soccer. The Anteaters also posted 10 shutouts, and an unprecedented

four consecutive from Oct. 28 through Nov. 11. UCI played to six

ties, breaking the 1996 mark. Also, the Anteaters finished with six

home shutouts, including four out of five home conference outings.

Irvine will be without Jon Spencer, the Big West Co-Offensive

Player of the Year, and Saul Wolf, the Big West Co-Defensive Player

of the Year, whom were both seniors last year. However, the focus

remains the same. It’s defense, and there’s a belief which says that

wins championships.

“We’re good on defense because we’re very particular about how we

play defense,” UCI Coach George Kuntz said. “We want our guys to be

extremely self-sufficient on the field. And, that in turn will help

the team. We make sure they’re playing with the team effort. “There’s

a method to Irvine’s defense. The Anteaters depend on teamwork, and

they focus on fundamentals. Kuntz’s assistant coaches provide the

instructions.

“Coach (Chris) Volk, who has worked with the goalkeepers, has been

very important for us,” Kuntz said. “You have to have a great

goalkeeper. Cameron Rossi is the goalkeeper for us. It’s his job to

lose.”

Kuntz also mentioned assistant Demion Brown coaches the defenses,

particularly the back line.

“Those guys are excellent,” Kuntz said of his assistants. “Without

them we’re not where we are.”

The Anteaters are also bolstered by their defensive leaders.

Sophomore midfielder Anthony Vizcarra, junior midfielder Joel

Spencer, junior midfielder Jon Paul Roepke and junior defender

Frankie Clay will be among the standouts on defense, in addition to

the goalie Rossi, a freshman.

Kuntz said, the Big West competition will be more tight this

season because every team has worked harder in recruiting.

“The Big West directors want to make soccer a priority sport,”

Kuntz said. “It really shifts focus toward the sport. We feel all the

teams in our conference immediately improved. The conference has

become stronger. We have some nice rivalries. It’s going to be a

great season, very exciting.”

Kuntz also strengthened his recruiting efforts and is excited to

see the results this season. Among the freshman are Cameron Dunn from

Alta Loma High and Sergio Rivera from Dana Hills High.

The Anteaters open their season Aug. 31, as they host the UC

Irvine College Classic. UCI takes on the University of

Alabama-Birmingham at 7 p.m. Earlier in the day, Kuntz said there

will be a “Fan Zone,” geared toward youth.