Anteaters regroup

Steve Virgen

The UC Irvine men’s soccer team has drawn closer to each other,

Coach George Kuntz said Tuesday, when the sixth and final player, who

was hospitalized from Saturday’s auto accident, was released from the

hospital.

A van carrying UCI team members to a Big West Conference game at

UC Riverside tipped onto its side on the 73 Freeway connector to the

55 northbound Saturday morning, officials said. Six UCI men’s soccer

players were taken to several area hospitals with minor injuries.

In accordance with university policy Kuntz did not release the

names of the six players who were injured, perhaps because of a

liability issue. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the

incident.

The Anteaters will host UC Santa Barbara tonight at 7. Kuntz said

he will find out today who will be ready to play. Brad Aspey,

Sebastian Galmarini and Dardo Acuna suffered injuries earlier in the

season and will not play today.

“I’m very thankful to God that we have all of our guys out of the

hospital and they’re all healthy,” Kuntz said. “They have some bumps

and bruises, but they are healthy.”

Kuntz has noticed a difference in his players since the auto

accident.

“I’ve seen a team with a different mentality since Saturday,”

Kuntz said. “The team has come closer because of it. In any type of

situation like this, you find out, with the relationships you have,

the closeness you have with your family and your religion, is what’s

really important. It was a pretty traumatic experience for the guys

who were involved. These guys have invested so much to the program,

and to see the worry on their faces (Saturday), it was emotional

time.”