Anteater men third in Big West coach poll

The UC Irvine men’s soccer team has been picked third in the Big West

Conference in this year’s preseason coaches’ poll. The Anteaters

picked up one first-place vote and edged Cal State Fullerton by a

half point in the poll for third.

UC Santa Barbara was selected to three-peat as champions. The

Gauchos received four of the six first-place votes. Cal State

Northridge, who finished second in the Big West last season, was

picked to finish second and received one first-place vote.

UCI finished 8-8-4 last season overall with a 3-4-3 record in the

Big West for fourth place. The Anteaters return second-team All-Big

West selection Anthony Vizcarra, a senior midfielder. They also

return All-Big West honorable mention honorees senior defender Chris

Ruiz, junior midfielder Dardo Acuna and junior goalkeeper Cameron

Rossi.

The Anteaters open the season hosting the UCI College Classic Aug.

30 and Sept. 1 against Fresno State and Alabama A&M.;

UC Irvine women fourth

in preseason rankings

The UC Irvine women’s soccer team has been picked fourth in this

year’s preseason Big West Conference coaches’ poll. The Anteaters

edged out Long Beach State for fourth place by one point.

UC Santa Barbara beat out Cal Poly San Luis Obispo by three points

for first place. Each team received four first place votes. Cal State

Fullerton was picked third and received the remaining two first-place

votes. Cal Poly, UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Fullerton finished

first, second and third last season, respectively.

Last year, UCI went 8-10-1 overall and 5-3-1 in the Big West to

finish fourth in the conference. The Anteaters return second-team

All-Big West members senior Hayley McNallan, senior Caroline Kabe and

junior Tara Weldon. All-Big West honorable mention players senior

Leah Dawson and junior Lachelle Manzano also return for UCI.

The Anteaters open the season Aug. 29 against Pepperdine in

Malibu.