Briefs: UCI’s Calzada on All-Big West men’s soccer first-team

UC Irvine senior forward Lalo Calzada earned first-team honors to lead four Anteaters named to the All-Big West Conference men’s soccer team.

Senior Mats Bjurman, as well as juniors Michael Sperber and Thomas Janjigian were second-team honorees for UCI, for whom Ivan Canales was an All-Freshman Team honoree.

Calzada, who was also a first-team performer as a junior, had six goals and three assists in the regular season, in which UCI finished 5-10-4, 3-5-2 in conference and was third in the South Division.

Bjurman, a midfielder, had one goal and four assists, while Sperber, a defensive midfielder who earned first-team laurels in 2014, had one assist.

Janjigian stood out on the back line, while Canales, a forward, had five regular-season goals.

Canales, senior forward Jaime Phillips (five goals and seven assists), junior defender Matthew Tilley and senior goalie Michael Breslin received honorable mention.

UCI visits Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Saturday at noon in the first round of the Big West tournament.

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Four Lions lauded

Vanguard University junior Juan Arellano is a three-time honoree to top four Lions named to the All-Golden State Athletic Conference men’s soccer team.

In addition to Arellano, seniors Jesus Fregoso and Josh Davis, as well as sophomore Brandon Gomez, were recognized.

Arellano had eight goals and six assists in the regular season, in which the No. 13-ranked Lions finished 14-3, 8-2 in conference, good for second place.

Fregoso led the team with 10 goals and added three assists for a team-best 23 points.

Gomez, a two-time all-conference goalkeeper, was 13-3 in 16 regular-season starts, including eight shutouts. His 0.75 goals-against average ranks No. 15 in the NAIA.

Davis, a center back, helped anchor the defense. He started all 17 games for Coach Randy Dodge.

Vanguard received a first-round bye in the GSAC Tournament and plays a team to be determined on Nov. 12 at Biola.

Conference champion Biola swept the top honors. Senior Joey O’Keefe was the Player of the Year, junior Leonardo Contreras was the Newcomer of the Year and Todd Elkins was the Coach of the Year.

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Quartet singled out

Vanguard University scoring leaders Madison Lopp and Danyelle Allen are among four Lions recognized on the All-Golden State Athletic Conference women’s soccer team.

Senior Asia Kleinmeyer and sophomore Lauren Aronson also represented the Lions on the 24-player unit.

Lopp, a sophomore forward, produced 12 goals and five assists, while Allen, a junior transfer from Saddleback Community College, had 10 goals and three assists to help the No. 13-ranked Lions compile a 13-4-1 record, 7-2-1 in conference.

Kleinmeyer and Aronson, both defenders, helped Coach Randy Dodge’s squad produce eight shutouts, on their way to a third-place conference finish.

Kleinmeyer had two goals and two assists, while Aronson registered one assist.

Vanguard is the No. 3 seed in the GSAC Tournament, in which it plays host to No. 6-seeded San Diego Christian in a first-round game on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Vanguard defeated San Diego Christian, 8-1, in their regular-season meeting on Oct. 6.

Westmont senior forward Kelsey Steck was the Player of the Year, while Biola’s Madyson Brown was Newcomer of the Year and Biola’s Erin Brunelle was Coach of the Year.

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UCI players tabbed

UC Irvine sophomore Kiana Palacios and senior teammate Clarissa Robles were named second-team All-Big West Conference in women’s soccer.

Brittany Nguyen was named to the All-Freshman Team for UCI, which finished 7-11-1, 3-5 in conference.

Palacios, a forward, had a team-best five goals and shared the team lead with three assists.

Robles, a defender, had three assists and helped the team post seven shutouts.

Nguyen, a midfielder, had one assist.

UCI senior goalkeeper Corey Tobin received honorable mention.

It was the first time since 2008 that no UCI player received first-team recognition.

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Lions sweep honors

Vanguard University, which is on its way to the school’s first Golden State Athletic Conference title in women’s volleyball, swept conference player of the week recognition.

Senior Rachael Barker was named Attacker of the Week, while junior Rory McCloy is the Setter of the Week and freshman Rebecca Lowden is the Defensive Player of the Week.

The trio helped the No. 7-ranked Lions (19-4, 12-0 in conference) earn a four-game win over Westmont on Nov. 27 and sweep visiting The Master’s on Saturday.

Barker posting 20 kills on 54 attempts for a .333 hitting percentage in the two matches. She had nine kills without an error against TMC.

McCloy, the second setter in the Lions’ 6-2 scheme, compiled 40 assists in seven sets last week. She also chipped in nine digs.

Lowden, who leads the conference with 445 digs on the season, had 33 digs and two aces in the two wins.

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VU duo honored

Vanguard University senior Jesus Fregoso has been named Golden State Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week in men’s soccer and Lions senior Josh Davis earned Defensive Player of the Week recognition.

Fregoso scored twice in a 6-1 win over William Jessup and leads the Lions with 10 goals.

Davis was singled out for his strong play at center back. He helped the No. 13-ranked Lions earn conference wins over Menlo on Thursday (a 2-0 verdict) and William Jessup on Saturday.

The Lions (14-3, 8-2 in conference) are the No. 2 seed in the GSAC Tournament. They receive a first-round tournament bye and play an opponent to be determined in the semifinals on Nov. 12 at Biola.

— From staff reports