Sports

The Anteaters’ season was on the line this week, and UC Irvine came through in a most triumphant and spectacular manner. Greatly aided by the return of star forward Eric Wise, UCI managed to clinch a spot in the Big West Tournament by beating both UC Davis and Pacific, teams they had lost to on the road earlier this season.

The Super Bowl has come and gone. The calendar reads March. And as Andy Williams puts it — it’s the most wonderful time of the year.

DEFENSE: UCI pieced together two stellar defensive performances to upset the 49ers and sweep the Tigers.

Despite a tough week on the road in Stockton and Reno (including the team bus getting bogged down in a snow storm for 15 hours on the way to Reno), all of UC Irvine’s proverbial marbles are on the line this week against UC Davis and Pacific at home.

RUNS: The Anteaters weathered the storm and feasted on the Nevada Wolfpack’s pitching staff.

TENNIS: Coach Trevor Kronemann has laid out the gauntlet for his 6-4 team, who has responded positively.

Compiled by Ian Massey.

VICTORY: UCI snapped a three-game losing streak behind Tayler Champion’s career-high of 25 points.

UCI: The women’s tennis team defeated Nevada 4-3 on Sat. and lost 4-3 Wyoming on Feb. 13.

After five straight conference losses threatened to torpedo the entire season for UCI, it was great to see some inspired play against a strong UC Santa Barbara team. The 66-63 win without star forward Eric Wise showed what this year’s Anteaters are all about — playing hard, playing small and above all, playing gritty.

VICTORY: With the Feb. 12 win against UCSB, the Anteaters halted a five-game losing streak.

BOSTON: Senior Tanya Taylor is the first UCI women’s soccer player to be professionally drafted.