UCI’s Murphy, Sias garner postseason soccer laurels

UC Irvine senior midfielder Matt Murphy was named third-team All-American by College Soccer News.

Murphy, the school’s all-time leader in goals (33), points (85) and game-winning goals (11), helped the Anteaters men’s team earn the program’s first Big West Conference regular-season and tournament titles en route to making its first NCAA Tournament appearance and producing the first NCAA Tournament win.

The Anteaters were eliminated in the round of 16 by St. John’s to finish 15-2-6.

Murphy, who had 11 goals and eight assists in 2008, and fellow senior David Sias have also been named first-team All-West Region by the National Soccer Coaches Assn. of America.

Sias, the Big West Defensive Player of the Year, was a center defender with 69 career starts.

Sias’ play helped UCI limit opponents to one or fewer goals in 17 games, including six shutouts.

Sias was named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com’s Team of the Season third team in November.

— From staff reports