UCR Rallies For 2-1 Victory

Friday, September 10

Riverside, CA

UC Riverside

UC Davis

9/10/2004 4:01:00 PM | Women's Soccer

UCR fought back from a 1-0 deficit in the second half, firing two goals in the final 16 minutes for a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over UC Davis Friday in the Highlander Classic. Junior forward Lisa Jensen (San Dimas, CA/Bonita HS) got the game winner with five minutes remaining.

“It was a well-fought game and our team showed a lot of character over the whole 90 minutes,” Head Coach Veronica O’Brien said. “That is what got us this successful result.”

The two teams were evenly matched over the first 45 minutes, with the Highlanders holding a 5-2 edge on shots. Both teams hit the post early but neither team could convert in the first half, however, as the game remained scoreless.

The Aggies opened the scoring at the 71 minute mark, as senior midfielder Tristan Ngoon claimed her first goal of the year. Ngoon was the quickest to react in a goal-box scramble, redirecting the ball past UCR’s Tawny Poggio. The goal was the first conceded by the Highlanders this season but only served to rile them up.

Barely three minutes after falling behind for the first time this season, UCR was back on level terms through a determined effort from junior forward Ashlee Stephens (Temecula, CA/Chaparral HS). Stephens sprinted past two defenders on the left flank and crossed to a waiting Amber Plumlee (Costa Mesa, CA/Mater Dei HS). The sophomore forward sidestepped a defender and slammed the ball home for her second goal of the year.

Knotted at one-all, the Highlanders were not content to play for the tie. UCR pushed forward and was rewarded five minutes from time when freshman forward Jenna Leonti’s (Corona, CA/Santiago HS) hustle on the right kept the ball in play. Leonti found Jensen at the edge of the 18-yard box and the junior did not hesitate, rocketing a right-footed shot into the top of the net for the game-winner. It was Jensen’s first goal of the year.

Poggio (Santa Ana, CA/Mater Dei HS) made two saves in gaining her fifth win of the year. Her counterpart, junior Krystyn Lizak, stopped five for UC Davis.

The win maintained the Highlanders’ perfect 5-0 start, the best in school history. UCR goes for number six at 1 pm on Sunday against Eastern Washington in the finale of the Highlander Classic. Davis takes on UTEP at 10:30 a.m. Sunday in the other match.