Men’s Soccer

UCI’s Garcia singled out

UC Irvine senior Irving Garcia, who helped the Anteaters earn their second straight Big West Conference Tournament title, has been named Big West Offensive Player of the Year.

Garcia, a midfielder and forward who led Big West players in points (25) and assists (nine), and was second in goals (eight), is a repeat first-team honoree.

Additional Anteaters earning first-team honors are senior midfielder Carlos Aguilar, senior defender Kevin Santora and junior forward Amani Walker.

Junior forward Spencer Thompson was a second-team honoree.

Aguilar, the MVP of the Big West Conference Tournament after posting three goals and one assist in two games to help the UCI defend its title, enters the NCAA Tournament with six goals and seven assists (19 points).

Walker leads UCI with nine goals and has added three assists for 21 points.

Santora has produced three goals and five assists for 11 points.

Thompson, who has seven goals and four assists (18 points), was a first-team all-conference performer as a sophomore.

UCI junior defender Corey Attaway and freshman midfielder Jonathan Prieto received honorable mention.

The Anteaters (15-6) are the No. 16 seed in the NCAA Tournament, in which they have a first-round bye and will meet either Saint Mary’s or Stanford Sunday at home at 6 p.m.

— From staff reports