UCI men picked to finish 4th

The UC Irvine men’s soccer team has been picked to finish fourth in

the Big West Conference preaseason coaches’ poll.

The Anteaters, led by 2004 Big West Midfielder of the Year Brad

Evans, received 18 points in the poll topped by UC Santa Barbara

(33).

Evans is a member of the U.S. under-20 national team and led the

Anteaters with seven goals and 18 points a year ago.

UCI, coached by George Kuntz, was 7-13, 3-7 in conference in 2004.

Cal State Northridge (29) and Cal State Fullerton (22) round out

the top three, while UC Riverside (13) and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

(11) were picked to finish fifth and sixth, respectively.

UCSB received four first-place votes, while Cal State Fullerton

and Cal Poly received one apiece.

UCSB is attempting to capture its fourth Big West title in five

seasons. The Gauchos are coming off the most successful season in

program history after finishing 21-3-1 and reaching the championship

match of the 2004 NCAA College Cup.

The Gauchos, ranked No. 7 nationally in the College Soccer News

preseason poll, held the No. 1 position in the polls for several

weeks and came within a penalty kick shootout of winning a national

championship.

Despite losing to Indiana, 3-2, in the shootout, the Gauchos bring

back an arsenal of talent with six returning starters and 14

lettermen.

A pair of 2004 Freshmen All-Americans in Andy Iro and Tyler

Rosenlund lead the attack, as well as first-team All-Big West

selection Pat Scott.

Cal State Northridge, the 2003 conference champion, joined the

Gauchos in last year’s postseason and return seven starters,

including two-time Big West Co-Offensive Player of the Year Willie

Sims, a junior.

UCI is scheduled to open the season Sept. 3 at 7:30 p.m. by

playing host to North Florida in the opening round of the UCI College

Classic at UCI.