UC Irvine men’s soccer

UC Irvine men’s soccer

picked to finish fourth

The UC Irvine men’s soccer program, which posted a school-record 13 victories last season, has been picked to finish fourth in the Big West Conference preseason coaches’ poll.

The Anteaters, guided by 2006 Big West Coach of the Year George Kuntz, received 24 points in voting. UCI was 13-4-3 last season and finished second in the Big West with a 6-3-1 mark.

Defending conference and NCAA champion UC Santa Barbara topped the list with 48 points, followed by Cal State Northridge (43) and Cal State Fullerton (26).

Rounding out the poll were Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (23), UC Davis (21) and UC Riverside (11).

The Anteaters lost standouts Brad Evans, Anthony Hamilton, Cameron Dunn and Kenny Schoeni to Major League Soccer, but return junior Matt Murphy, who led the Big West in points (25), goals (10) and game-winning goals in the 2006 regular season.

UCI is scheduled to open its season Aug. 31 at home against Gonzaga.

The Anteaters open Big West competition on Oct. 10 at defending national champion UCSB.

— From staff reports