Former Oiler Bailey playing big part for UCI

Sophomore Gray Bailey, a a midfielder/defender on the UC Irvine men’s soccer team, has been a key contributor to the Anteaters’ success this year. Bailey, a Huntington Beach High graduate, has one goal and two assists on the year and his defense has helped UCI earn five shutout victories.

Last week, UCI clinched the school’s first regular season Big West Conference Championship and then went on to win the inaugural Big West Conference tournament to gain an automatic berth in the NCAA men’s soccer tournament. The Anteaters, ranked seventh nationally, are the No. 14-seed for this week’s NCAA tournament. They will host the winner of Friday’s first-round game between UCLA and Cal Poly in second round action at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

UCI senior co-captain David Sias, a graduate of Fountain Valley High, will be making his 68th career start in his next match to tie for the fourth most in UCI history. Sias was named to the Top Drawer Soccer Men’s Collegiate National Team of the Week on Nov. 10.

— Mike Sciacca