‘Eaters’ Ibarra All-American

UC Irvine senior men’s soccer midfielder Miguel Ibarra has been named first-team All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Assn. of America.

Ibarra, who shared Big West Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors after leading the Anteaters to the conference regular-season and tournament championships, helped UCI reach the NCAA Tournament and finish 16-6-1.

He had nine goals and eight assists to lead the team with 26 points (two points for a goal and one for an assist). Four of his goals were game-winners.

Ibarra joins UC Santa Barbara’s Luis Silva as the only two West Coast players to make the first team.

Ibarra also earned first-team All-West Region laurels.

UCI senior goalkeeper Andrew Fontein was named third-team All-West Region. He added nine shutouts this season to finish with a school-record 29 as a four-year starter.

Ibarra was one of 52 seniors invited to take part in the Major League Soccer player combine Jan. 6-10 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

The combine will feature coaches and technical staffs from all 19 MLS clubs, including 2012 expansion side Montreal Impact, who will be in attendance to scout the top talent at the 17th annual player combine. The combine will be simulcast on mlssoccer.com for viewers to watch.

The MLS SuperDraft, which is two rounds, will take place on Jan. 12, televised on ESPN2. A supplemental draft will take place Jan. 17 that will be four rounds.

Early mock drafts project Fontein going in the second round. Ibarra also showed up on mlssoccer.com’s list of top-25 prospects.

— From staff reports