Beahm UCI’s lone player among All-Big West picks

Senior co-captain Makenzie Beahm, a defender on the UC Irvine women’s soccer team, has been named second-team All-Big West Conference by the conference coaches.

Beahm, who helped the Anteaters finish 11-7-2, 5-2-1 in conference, which allowed them to tie for third place, was a big reason behind the program’s turnaround from a 3-13-1 campaign that included seven shutout losses in seven conference games in 2006.

By virtue of tying Long Beach State for third, Coach Scott Juniper’s Anteaters earned the program’s fourth trip to the four-team Big West Tournament, from which the winner emerges with an automatic NCAA Tournament bid.

UCI led top-seeded Cal State Fullerton in the 81st minute of Friday’s semifinal at Cal State Fullerton, before allowing the tying goal and eventually losing in overtime, 2-1, to the eventual tournament champions.

Her presence on the back line helped UCI post 10 shutouts this season.

Beahm, a 5-10 San Clemente High product, scored two goals and had two assists for the Anteaters. Impressive numbers, considering she took just four shots on goal. She was one of four UCI players to start all 20 games.

Costa Mesa High product Sharon Day, a senior at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, also earned second-team honors.

Day, who did not play last season after breaking her foot, was twice a first-team all-conference selection for the Mustangs, who lost to Cal State Fullerton, 4-3 on penalty kicks, in Sunday’s conference tournament final.

Senior Kim Horn, junior Kat Lemieux, as well as freshmen Tanya Taylor, Nikki Forrest and Danielle de Seriere received honorable mention from UCI.

— Barry Faulkner