College Roundup: Anteaters advance to Big West title game

MEN’S SOCCER

UC Irvine 2, UC Davis 0

Seniors Enrique Cardenas and Christopher Santana scored goals for the host Anteaters in the semifinals of the Big West Conference Tournament.

The Anteaters (13-4-2), champions of the Big West South Division, will meet South Division runner-up Cal State Northridge (15-5-1) in the tournament final on Sunday at 2 p.m. at UCI.

Cardenas converted a Thomas Janjigian corner kick in the 12th minute to open the scoring and Santana got an assist from Trey Hayes in the 85th minute.

UCI goalkeeper Michael Breslin made just one save to earn his eighth shutout as UCI posted an 11-6 advantage in shots.

Santana had six shots for the winners, who have already defeated Cal State Northridge twice this season.

Sunday’s winner earns an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.

—

Orange Coast 1, Norco 1

NORCO — Brice Manning’s goal in the 87th minute erased the Pirates’ 1-0 deficit and helped them clinch the Orange Empire Conference championship Friday, their first conference crown in 22 seasons.

OCC finished 10-4-4, 9-2-3 in conference. With three points for a win and one for a conference tie, OCC’s 30 points were two better than Santa Ana, which was tied, 0-0, by Golden West on Friday.

OCC earns an automatic berth into the 16-team Southern California Regional playoffs that begin next week.

—

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Orange Coast 2, Irvine Valley 1

Danielle Dapello scored both goals to help the host Pirates clinch second place in the Orange Empire Conference on Friday.

Shelle Zito had the assist on both goals and Emily Harrier made three saves for OCC (12-3-4, 10-3-3 in conference) will now await word on a possible at-large berth into the Southern California Regional playoffs, for which pairings will be announced on Tuesday.

—

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Vanguard 72, Westminster 45

Senior Nicole Ballestero had 21 points and sophomore Samantha Doucette chipped in 18 points and seven rebounds to help the No. 1-ranked Lions defeat the No. 5-ranked visitors in a nonconference game Saturday.

Vanguard shot 49% from the field (25 for 51) and posted a 39-23 redounding advantage.

Senior Taylor Belmont had 12 points, six assists and five rebounds for the winners (4-0).

Westminster is 4-1.

—

Orange Coast 85, Victor Valley 48

SAN JACINTO — Sophomore guard Dayanara Armenta had 24 points and Raechelle Davis added 18 for the Pirates in the first round of the Mt. San Jacinto Tournament on Friday.

Davis was nine for 12 from the field and Armenta was nine for 14, including six for 11 from three-point range.

OCC (1-0) was 11 for 32 from three-point range and forced 26 turnovers.

—

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Vanguard 84, UC Merced 59

Chris Gorman had 18 points to lead three Lions in double figures in the nonconference home game Friday.

Zach Allmon had 13 points and eight rebounds and Preston Wynne had 12 points, six rebounds and four assists as the Lions made just one of 20 three-point attempts.

Vanguard (3-1) posted a 54-40 rebounding edge and forced 21 turnovers while committing just eight.

UC Merced is 1-3.

—

Moorpark 66, Orange Coast 62

Devaun Evans had 13 points off the bench to lead the host Pirates in the nonconference game Friday.

Noah Prouse had 11 points, six rebounds and five blocked shots for OCC, for which Spencer Poston had seven points, seven rebounds and four assists.

OCC fell to 1-3, while Moorpark improved to 1-2.

—

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

UC Irvine def. Cal State Fullerton

FULLERTON — Casssidy Pickrell had a career-high 25 kills and hit .447 to lead the visiting Anteaters to the 26-24, 22-25, 25-21, 19-25, 15-10 Big West Conference win on Friday.

Marisa Bubica had 15 kills for the winners, for whom Shelley Anderson had 52 assists and Arden Davis made 21 digs.

UCI is 14-13, 5-8 in conference.

The Titans fell to 10-14, 3-9.

—

MEN’S WATER POLO

Pacific 16, UC Irvine 8

STOCKTON — Senior Bojan Hrlec had three goals in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation game on Saturday.

No. 1-ranked Pacific improved to 19-3, 6-1 in conference. UCI fell to 12-11, 0-6.

Mitch Wise had two goals for UCI.