LA JOLLA, Calif. – The Big West announced the men's soccer conference postseason awards on Tuesday afternoon with three Tritons named to the list. Graduate student
Iñaki Iribarren earned a spot on the All-Big West First Team with junior
Max Carvalho earning a spot on the Second Team, and redshirt-freshman
Evan Wellerstein making the All-Freshmen Team.
In
Iñaki Iribarren's first year as a Triton, the Wisconsin-transfer led UC San Diego in goals scored (11), shots taken (44), shots on goal (18), and points (22). This is the Pamplona product's first athletic conference recognition between the Big Ten and Big West. His presence in the box on set plays for the Tritons was hard to defend as the Tritons were only shut out twice this season. Iribarren played all 18 games with 18 starts and 1,464 minutes played.
Earning his second career conference recognition,
Max Carvalho supported Iribarren throughout the season with three assists, 30 shots taken, 17 on goal, and four goals scored. Carvalho lifted the Tritons in several games with either an equalizing goal or a game winner. His pressure up top caused several turnovers throughout the season finding Iribarren for all three of his assists. The junior played all 18 games with 18 starts and 1,211 minutes.
Making an immediate impact in the defensive line,
Evan Wellerstein led the Triton defense in all 18 matches playing every minute of the season except for 53 minutes. A critical part to the Triton's set plays on corner kicks, the Wailuku product was able to put five shots on goal with 15 total shots taken. With Wellerstein in the box drawing defenders, Iribarren was able to score the majority of his goals on set plays with the redshirt-freshman's help.
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.