UCI Opens Soccer Tournament Against Pacific

The UC Irvine women’s soccer team meets Pacific tonight in a Big West Conference tournament first-round game at Irvine.

The Anteaters and Tigers play at 7 p.m. Cal State Fullerton and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo play at 5 p.m.

he Anteaters lost four of six during one stretch in October, which began with a a 1-0 loss to the Tigers on Oct. 3.

Irvine has won three consecutive games heading into the tournament.

The Anteaters were slowed by season-ending injuries to forward Tracie Manz and defender Kelly Dohmann. Nicole Bucciarelli, a first-team All-Big West selection last season, has a team-high 13 goals. Freshman Stephanie Rigamat, who scored 109 goals in four years at La Crescenta Crescenta Valley High School, has seven this season.

Fullerton and San Luis Obispo also met in the first round last season, but the Titans were regular-season champions. The Mustangs won the conference title this season and defeated Fullerton, 4-1.

The Titans received good news this week when defender Michelle Rice played Tuesday against UC Santa Barbara. Rice suffered a torn ligament in her right knee against Cal State Northridge on Oct. 8 and was expected to be out for the season.