‘Eaters’ Evans is honored

UC Irvine senior men’s soccer forward Brad Evans has been named a third-team preseason All-American by College Soccer News.

Evans, the Big West Conference Offensive Player of the Year last season and the conference’s Midfielder of the Year in 2004, becomes the first men’s soccer All-American in the program’s history.

Evans was a second-team National Soccer Coaches Assn. of America All-Far West selection in 2005, when he scored 11 goals and added four assists for the Anteaters.

In his collegiate career, he has 23 goals, eight assists and seven game-winning goals.

His 54 points (two points for a goal and one for an assist) rank sixth all-time in UCI annals. He is fourth in career goals.

Coach George Kuntz’s Anteaters, who were 11-6-3, 7-2-1 in the Big West last year, play their annual Blue & Gold Game on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Anteater Stadium.

UCI opens the regular season Aug. 25 at home against Denver at 5 p.m.