Big West honors UCI’s Little

UCI’s Kelly Little Big West POW in women’s soccerUC Irvine sophomore Kelly Little has been named Big West Conference Player of the Week in women’s soccer.

Little had the game-winning assist in the Anteaters’ 2-0 home victory over No. 25 Long Beach State Sunday.

The defender also stood out in a 1-1 tie against visiting UC Riverside on Friday. Little cleared numerous balls out of the 18-yard box to thwart 49er and Highlander scoring opportunities.

UCI (5-11-2, 1-4-1 in conference) completes its season Friday at Cal State Fullerton.

Ronning lauded

Orange Coast College sophomore middle linebacker Dave Ronning has been named Mission Conference Defensive Player of the Week in football.

Ronning, a 6-foot-2, 230-pounder out of Woodenville, Wash., made 14 tackles -- including four solo stops -- in the Pirates’ 30-28 Mission Conference Northern Division win over host Saddleback Saturday.

Ronning leads OCC (4-3, 1-1 in the division) with 80 tackles, including five for losses and one sack. He also has two interceptions.

Pirates move up

The Orange Coast College football team moved up five spots to No. 11 in the Southern California Community College football poll released Monday.

The Pirates (4-3, 1-1 in the Mission Conference National Division), won at Saddleback, 30-28, on Saturday. The Gauchos (4-3, 1-1) fell from No. 8 to No. 12.

College of the Canyons is No. 1, followed by Mission Conference unbeatens El Camino and Fullerton, respectively.

Santa Ana (5-2, 1-1 in the National Division), which plays host to OCC Saturday at 1 p.m., is ranked No. 8.