Bucciarelli Continues to Set Her Goals High

Nicole Bucciarelli still has a nose for the goal.

After scoring 48 goals and leading Grant High to the City Section girls’ soccer title during the 1994-95 season, Bucciarelli hasn’t slowed down in two seasons at UC Irvine.

Bucciarelli, 20, scored 12 goals as a freshman for the Anteaters and set UC Irvine’s season scoring record with 17 goals last season. She has thrived under the tutelage of Irvine Coach Marine Cano, who has a reputation as a taskmaster.

“I’ve become a totally different player,” Bucciarelli said. “My touch on the ball is better and I know when to go to the goal with the ball and when to pass it off. Before I never really had a system to work in. We just played.”

Joining the Anteaters this season will be freshmen Stephanie Rigamat from Crescenta Valley High and Kristie Nakamura of Thousand Oaks. Both were members of The Times’ all-region team last season.

Bucciarelli hopes the newcomers will help Irvine claim the Big West Conference title. The Anteaters finished second to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo last season.

“We do better and better each year,” she said.