Sports

SOCCER: Nationally ranked and motivated from last year’s Tournament run, UCI starts off well.

When I came to UC Irvine in the fall of 2006, I was not expecting much school spirit for athletic programs. I was not attending a school like UCLA or USC where it is customary to paint your face and tailgate before football games. However, I acquired a certain love for UCI athletics during my freshman year when I would walk to the men’s basketball games at the Bren Events Center from my dorm in Mesa Court. I usually attended the games just to relax and talk to some friends. Every game would go down to the final minute, so there was always a reason to stay and watch.

WOMEN’S VBALL: Pestolesi, Piggott, and Robertson lead the charge as UCi is ranked nationally early on.

SOCCER: Young team doing better than last season, getting solid contributions from freshmen.

POLO: Men’s water polo easily dispatches weaker opponents, but conference teams ahead will pose a challenge.

Baseball: UCI went 2-2 in the Irvine Regional. The ’Eaters fell to second seed UVA twice to be eliminated.

Welcome to the Regional of Death.

Sports: UC Irvine blew up this year and next year’s sports editor has the sport-by-sport recap for you.

There is nothing on this earth that can keep me at UC Irvine after I am done with classes on a Friday. I may have met the one and only exception to this on May 29, 2009. On this date, my hometown California State University, Fresno State Bulldogs took on my UCI Anteaters, in an NCAA Regional baseball game. I could not pass up the chance of a lifetime to see who would win out for my entire love in collegiate sports, even though the Lakers were playing for a chance to go to the NBA Finals. I felt as if I needed to make a decision once and for all. Do I go with past or present? I had some serious soul searching to do at Anteater Ballpark.

Baseball: From not that good to just that good, Deragisch is striving to be the best day in and day out.

You better shout, you better cry, the baseball playoffs are coming to town.