Briefs

UCI ranked No. 14

Coming off the most successful season in the program’s history, the UC Irvine men’s soccer team is ranked No. 14 in the College Soccer News national preseason poll.

Coach George Kuntz’s Anteaters, who won their first Big West Conference regular-season and tournament titles en route to their first NCAA Tournament appearance, were 15-2-6 last season.

Six senior starters have moved on from a team that defeated Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 3-0, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, then fell at St. Johns, 3-2, in the round of 16.

Those departed include third-team All-American Matt Murphy, the school’s career leader in goals (33) and points (85), as well as Big West Defensive Player of the Year David Sias.

But a strong corps of returners is led by senior Irving Garcia, who had seven goals and nine assists last season to finish No. 2 on the team in scoring. Garcia scored three goals in two postseason games, and had at least one goal or an assist in the final seven contests.

Juniors Spencer Thompson (eight goals and six assists) and Amani Walker (four goals and five assists) are other returning standouts, as is sophomore goalkeeper Andrew Fontein.

St. John’s is ranked No. 1.

Pirates’ Silva honored

Orange Coast College softball catcher Nicole Silva was named second-team All-Orange Empire Conference after her freshman season in 2009.

Silva batted .437 with three home runs and 23 runs batted in for the Pirates (7-29-1, 0-21 in conference).

She hit .413 with two homers and 10 RBIs against conference competition.

— From staff reports