Murphy earns preseason honor for UCI soccer

UC Irvine junior midfielder Matt Murphy has been named third-team preseason All-American by College Soccer News.

Murphy was named the Big West Conference Midfielder of the Year in 2006 after leading the Anteaters with 25 points on 10 goals and five assists.

The first-team All-Big West honoree ranked 25th in the country in points per game with 1.47 and 27th in the country in goals per game with 0.59 according to NCAA statistics.

Murphy becomes the second Anteater to earn preseason All-American honors, following Brad Evans last season.

The Anteaters, coming off a school-record 13 wins in 2006, are scheduled to open their 2007 season Aug. 31 at home against Gonzaga.

— From staff reports