Women's Soccer's 3-0 Victory Over UCI Gives O'Brien Career Win #100

Friday, October 20

Riverside, CA

UC Riverside

UC Irvine

Women's Soccer's 3-0 Victory Over UCI Gives O'Brien Career Win #100

10/20/2006 4:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer

UC Riverside 3, UC Irvine 0 - Box Score

Riverside—UC Riverside head coach Veronica O’Brien recorded her 100th career victory as the Highlanders defeated visiting UC Irvine 3-0 in a Big West Conference match Friday afternoon at the UCR Soccer Stadium. UCR snaps its string of six matches without a victory to improve to 8-7-1, 1-4-1, while the Anteaters fall to 3-11-1, 0-5-0.

In a matchup of teams looking for their first Big West Conference win, the first half offered few chances for either side. UCR out-shot UCI 6-4 in the opening 45 minutes but Anteater goalkeeper Erin Henry came through with four saves to keep the scoreline at zeroes.

The Highlanders wasted no time in turning around a drab first half, scoring 30 seconds after the second half kicked off. Freshman midfielder Jessica Almendarez (Fallbrook, CA) sent in a cross from the right side that skirted through a few players. A UCI defender turned to kick it away but sophomore forward Tessa Lennala (Temecula, CA) got her foot to the clearance, redirecting it into the goal. It was Lennala’s fifth goal of the season.

Spurred on by breaking the deadlock, UCR had many more opportunities to score, outshooting UCI 10-2 in the second half. In the 61st minute, senior defender Amber Plumlee (La Habra, CA) laced a 30-yard free kick but Henry angled herself well for the save. Two minutes later, junior forward Jenna Leonti (Corona, CA) went aerial for a diving header off a Plumlee cross but pushed it just wide. In the 70th minute, freshman defender Letty Villalpando (Moreno Valley, CA) was sent through on a one-on-one opportunity but again Henry came up with the stop.

UCR would get its second goal on a well-worked one-two between Leonti and freshman forward Heidi Garrett (Riverside, CA). Leonti collected the ball 40 yards from goal and fed Garrett, who sent a one-touch ball past the defense to Leonti, who had continued her run. Leonti took a touch and then fired into the top right corner. The goal was Leonti’s fifth of the season, tying her with Lennala for the team lead. It was also the 15th of her career, moving her past Vanessa Chanez (2002-05) for sole possession of second place on the UCR all-time list. She also moved past Chanez into second place on the UCR points list, recording her 40th career point on the goal.

As the game wound down, both teams had shots cleared off the line. In the 84th minute, UCI’s Kim Horn got to a header that looked to be going in until Plumlee arrived to head it off the line. Two minutes later, UCR freshman forward Ashley Parks (Etiwanda, CA) watched as her header was headed away by an Irvine defender.

UCR completed the scoring in the 89th minute. Freshman forward Denise Thomas (San Bernardino, CA) found herself in a one-on-one situation but pushed her attempt just wide of the left post. Off the ensuing goal kick, Thomas controlled the ball and threaded a pass through to Parks, who ran on to it and avoided an on-rushing Henry to slot home for her first career goal.

UCR held a 16-6 shot advantage and had four corner kicks to UCI’s one. Henry made eight saves for UCI while Goetz was not pressured into any saves in registering her second career shutout.

The day belonged to O’Brien, however, who had recorded her 99th career victory on September 24 at San Jose State and then had to wait seven games for the next one. The only coach in the six-year history of UCR’s women’s soccer program, O’Brien now has a career record of 100-88-22, including a 58-40-15 mark with the Highlanders.

The Highlanders close out their home schedule next Thursday, September 26, in a non-conference game against UC Davis at 1 p.m. Prior to the match, UCR will hold Senior Day ceremonies in which it will honor the Highlanders’ five graduating seniors.