UCI kicks off on the right foot

The men’s and women’s soccer teams of UC Irvine created some

season-opening highlights and, perhaps, provided signs of things to

come for the rest of the year.

Irvine’s men’s soccer team gave 15th-ranked Alabama-Birmingham

quite a scare, in the season opener for both teams Saturday. The

Anteaters (1-0-1) battled to a 1-1 tie with the Blazers in the

Collegiate Classic presented by Hilton Irvine/Orange County Airport.

The Blazers (0-1-1) recently moved down on the National Soccer

Coaches Association of America poll from 15 to 25, after their tie

with Irvine and a 2-1 loss to the University of San Diego.

UCI actually led, 1-0, with 16 minutes remaining, and the

Anteaters outshot UAB, 15-8. Junior Anthony Vizcarra scored the first

goal of the game, giving Irvine the one-goal lead in the 73rd minute.

The Blazers answered with just under four minutes to play in

regulation.

“It was important to see our team play very well against a

nationally ranked opponent,” UCI Coach George Kuntz said. “We felt

that we had most of the play while outshooting UAB, 15-8. We battled hard for the two overtime periods and had some great opportunities to

win the game in regulation and overtime despite giving up a late goal

in regulation.”

Irvine earned its first victory of the season on Labor Day, when

the Anteaters defeated Stony Brook (from New York), 3-0. UCI senior

Jesse Peron scored the Anteater’s first goal, while sophomore Lerato

Simelane added two off of assist from Chris Klotz and Dardo Acuna.

Scott Bowman and Chris Ruiz assisted on Peron’s goal. Irvine outshot

the Seawolves, 18-6.

This weekend, the Anteaters will take their unbeaten record to

Fresno and will compete in the Goal Rush Classic. UCI will take on

the Bulldogs of Fresno State (0-0-1) Friday night at 7. On Sunday at

noon, Irvine will face Loyola Marymount (1-0-1).

The UCI men were ranked second in the Big West according to the

conference coaches’ votes in the preseason. The Anteaters were just

one polling point behind defending champion UC Santa Barbara.

Meanwhile, the UCI women’s soccer team won its season opener with

a 2-0 victory over Eastern Washington Friday in the Cal State

Fullerton Fila Classic. Senior defender Robyn Piotrowski scored both

goals and earned Big West Conference Co-Player of the Week laurels.

Both of Piotrowski’s goals came in the first half. She has already

matched her goal output for her freshman season.

Irvine will host the UCI/Nike Invitational this weekend at

Anteater Stadium. Coach Marine Cano’s Anteaters will take on Montana

at 8 p.m. and on Sunday at 1 p.m., UCI will face 13th-ranked St.

Mary’s. Big West foe Cal State Fullerton will also be in the

invitational.

The UCI men’s water polo team is hoping to duplicate the soccer

squads’ success this weekend. Coach Ted Newland’s Anteaters will open

their season taking on UCLA Sunday at noon at the Anteater Aquatics

Complex. The Bruins, which include former Newport Harbor High

standout Peter Belden and Corona del Mar products Garrett Bowlus and

Michael March, finished third in last year’s final national poll.

UCI was ninth in the poll, but that could change this year, as the

Anteaters will be more dangerous with the return of senior Jeff

Powers, a member of the U.S. Senior National Team. Powers was a

redshirt last year.

“Powers has come a long way this year in international play and

has been a major offensive power for the USA,” Newland said. “He can

score from anywhere and does, out of set and on the counterattack. He

is big and fast and has great mobility.”

Powers, a prolific 6-foot-6, 225-pound two-meter man, scored a

game-high four goals in Team USA’s 14-11 upset victory over water

polo power Hungary July 26.

UCI junior Garrett Gentry, also out of Corona del Mar High, and

sophomore Dreason Barry scored 33 and 15 goals, respectively, last

year, and have improved throughout the off-season.

“I am looking forward to having a lot of fun coaching again this

year,” said Newland, who is in his 37th season and owns a career

record of 670-305-5, and has the most wins among NCAA water polo

coaches. “I have a great group of young men. (Against UCLA), I just

want to see how well we play together as a team. Powers adds a whole

new dimension to our team. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Coach Charlie Brande’s women’s volleyball team started out the

season with a strong effort last weekend. The Anteaters went 2-1 in

the Marriott Sunset Showcase at Crawford Hall.

Irvine defeated New Orleans, three games to one, to open the

tournament, and then the Anteaters swept James Madison.

Senior outside hitter Chanda McLeod, a team captain, and sophomore

outside hitter Kelly Wing were named to the all-tournament team. Wing

amassed 48 kills and 22 digs in the three matches, while McLeod

contributed 37 kills and 28 digs.

Sophomore Brenda Waterman, a team captain originally from Newport

Harbor High, was named the tournament’s top libero after recording 16

digs in the three matches.

The Anteaters are idle this weekend and return to action when they

take their San Diego trip next week. Irvine faces the University of

San Diego Monday at 7 p.m., then San Diego State Tuesday at 6 p.m.