UC Irvine and Coach Scott Juniper’s Remarkable NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament History
University of California Irvine has been the talk of the NCAA tournament after taking down the reigning champs, UCLA, in the first round of the playoffs. Interestingly, this is the second time that UCI has beaten UCLA on their home field in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Let’s take a look at UCI’s tournament history.
UC Irvine’s Tournament History
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In 2021, UCI beat UCLA in the first round of the playoffs 1-0 on UCLA’s home turf. This ended an incredibly long winning streak for UCLA. In 2022, UCI played USC and won 2-0, with a goal coming from Alyssa Moore, who also scored the game-winner in the most recent win.
Head Coach Scott Juniper
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Their head coach, Scott Juniper, has been with the team for 15 years, starting in 2007. Juniper led the team to win the Big West tournament with a six-match unbeaten streak while also attending the playoffs for the first time since 2011. Juniper originally coached and played in the U.K. but had his debut with UC Riverside as the men’s assistant coach. He has also actively participated in the Olympic Development Program and the United States Youth National Team.
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After their defeat of UCLA, UCI beat Gonzaga, an eighth-seeded team, 2-1 on November 17. They advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, but ultimately fell to Nebraska. Nonetheless, the team’s history is one of an underdog story, and this NCAA tournament is another revolutionary one for the program.
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