UCI continues climb
Topography suggests that the UC Irvine men’s soccer team is based right about at sea level. But after consecutive NCAA Sweet 16 appearances and as a preseason favorite to win the Big West Conference South Division, the mountaintop continues to be the Anteaters’ focus.
“I told the group their character, their cohesion and their commitment to each other will give us the opportunity to take this program to even higher levels that we haven’t achieved before,” said second-year coach Chris Volk.
Volk’s debut season at the helm, after a long tenure as an assistant coach, was momentous. With a 16-6-3 record, the 2014 squad matched a program record for wins, and its midseason No. 2 national ranking set precedent. The ‘Eaters knocked off host Stanford, ranked No. 1 at the end of the regular season, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, its first win over the Cardinal in nine tries.
“Our performance, start to finish, was pretty good, and even record-breaking,” Volk said. “Everyone associated with the program can know they were part of a pretty special year.”
But still, UCI failed to win a Big West regular-season or conference tournament title for only the second time in seven seasons.
“We did not walk away with any Big West hardware and losing on a free kick in the [NCAA round of 16] against Rhode Island was kind of a bitter ending,” Volk said. “So, we left some attainable goals unfulfilled.”
UCI, ranked No. 20 in the preseason, opened its season with a 1-0 home win over Loyola of Chicago and returns to action Friday at Nebraska-Omaha. It does so with seven returning starters, including its only two first-team all-conference performers last fall, as well as plenty of additional experience.
Also, there are seven freshmen and one transfer to fortify the cause.
Foremost among the returners are junior defender Michael Sperber, whose fiery aggression inspires his teammates and infuriates foes. Sperber was a first-team All-Big West honoree as a sophomore, when he had one goal and one assist, but helped anchor a defense that produced 10 shutouts last season.
The other all-conference returner is senior Lalo Calzada, who had a team-best seven goals and shared team-high honors with 18 points in his first season after transferring from Cal State Bakersfield.
Senior goalkeeper Michael Breslin is a three-year starter, while others with starting experience include senior midfielder Mats Bjurman, and defenders Jack Birkenbeuel, Noah Gaines, Matt Tilley and Thomas Janjigian.
Janjigian and Tilley, both juniors, missed time with injuries last season, but are expected to be fixtures as outside backs this fall. Birkenbueul, a junior, started 22 games last season, while Gaines, another junior, made 17 starts in 2014 and produced one goal and two assists.
“We had five defenders for four spots last year [only Bryan Breslin graduated], so our back line returns virtually intact,” Volk said. “And with our defensive midfielders [Sperber and Bjurman] also back, that back seven is very solid. A lot of our 10 shutouts last year can be attributed to team defending, but that core seven that is back was a big part as well.”
Bjurman, who joined Sperber and Calzada on the preseason all-conference team, had two goals and five assists last season.
Calzada is the most proven commodity up top, where freshmen Luis Leon (Santa Ana High) and Ivan Canales (JSerra High) could also factor in.
Juniors Edgar Molina and Andres Mendoza also started in the midfield against Loyola Chicago, but Volk said it may take a while for the lineup to solidify. Molina had the game-winner in the opener.
Senior Gerardo Gonzalez had one goal and five assists as a junior transfer from Cal State Bakersfield, while juniors Mario Ortiz (three goals) and Renato Torquato (one) also found the back of the net last season.
Additional freshmen include Andrew Guerrero, Jorge Lara, Daniel Crisostomo, Julian Font and Alex Waldron.
“It’s hard to get to the top, to that pinnacle,” Volk said of the program’s quest to reach the College Cup (Final Four). “But with every player and with every season we have, we put another level in our foundation that we can continue to build on.”