Friday, September 4
Irvine, CA
4:30 pm
UC Riverside
vs
Southern Utah
Photo by: Bobby R. Hester, (c) 2009
Women's Soccer Takes On Southern Utah At UC Irvine Tournament
8/29/2009 2:44:18 PM | Women's Soccer
The UC Riverside Women's Soccer Team, fresh off its first win of the season, travels to UC Irvine this Friday for the start of a weekend tournament. First up are the Southern Utah Thunderbirds on Friday, September 4 followed by Fresno State on Sunday, September 6. Friday's match is set to begin at 4:30 pm.
The Highlanders and Thunderbirds have faced off against one another on four occasions with UC Riverside winning all four meetings including last year's 5-0 win at Southern Utah.
UCR keeper Jessica White (pictured), who recorded the first shutout of her collegiate career on Sunday in a 1-0 win over Texas State, made her first appearance as a Highlander in last year's 5-0 win over the Thunderbirds when she subbed for starter Brittany Goetz over the final 15:20l.
Tessa Lennala scored a pair of goals in the win while Ciara Hilpert, Sarah Mohammadi and Loana Holness each added one.
GAME NOTES
SEARCHING FOR A NEW SET OF GOALS
The Highlanders scored 32 goals a year ago, but the feet responsible for just 16 of them return for the 2009 season. The biggest loss is all-conference performer Tessa Lennala who paced UCR and the Big West in 2008 with 11 goals and 27 points.
Heidi Gassaway (nee Garrett), who finished fourth in the conference in scoring a year ago with nine goals and 21 points, is the top returning scorer for UCR, however Denise Thomas and Sally Yunker are the two members of the Highlanders to have dented the net so far this year. Yunker's first goal as a collegian was the game-winner in UC Riverside's 1-0 overtime win over Texas State on August 30. Thomas scored her fourth career goal in the Highlanders' 2-1 loss to Oregon State on August 28.
WHITE OUT
Jessica White, who served as Brittany Goetz's backup in goal a year ago seeing action in four matches, is the Highlanders starting keeper in 2009, and she currently boasts a goals against average of 0.99. She picked up the first shutout of her collegiate career in a 1-0 overtime win over Texas State on August 30.
SIDELINE ASSISTANCE
Former San Diego goalkeeper Tommy Tate became a member of the Highlanders coaching staff this summer joining Head Coach Veronica O'Brien and Assistant Coach Kerri Patterson. The UCR coaching family will grow again at the end of the season as Patterson and her husband, Michael, are expecting their first child in December.
OFF THE CHARTS
Heidi Gassaway enters her junior season ranked fifth on the Highlanders career points and goals scored charts and sixth in assists.
The Highlanders and Thunderbirds have faced off against one another on four occasions with UC Riverside winning all four meetings including last year's 5-0 win at Southern Utah.
UCR keeper Jessica White (pictured), who recorded the first shutout of her collegiate career on Sunday in a 1-0 win over Texas State, made her first appearance as a Highlander in last year's 5-0 win over the Thunderbirds when she subbed for starter Brittany Goetz over the final 15:20l.
Tessa Lennala scored a pair of goals in the win while Ciara Hilpert, Sarah Mohammadi and Loana Holness each added one.
| Highlanders vs. Thunderbirds Match Capsule | ||
| UC Riverside | Southern Utah | |
| 2008 Record & stats |
8-10-2, 2-5-1 BW | 7-10-0 |
| 2009 Record & stats |
1-2-0 | 0-2-0 |
| 2009 Schedule | 2009 Schedule | |
| 2009 Roster | 2009 Roster | |
| Current Streak | W1 |
L4 |
| Most Recent Box Score |
W, 1-0 OT1 vs. Texas State |
L, 2-1 vs. Idaho State |
| Next Opponent | 9/6 vs. Fresno State |
9/6 at UC Irvine |
| Leading Scorer |  Senior &  Junior 1 gl, 0 asts, 2 pts |
 Sophomore 1 gl, 2 pts |
| Leading Keeper |
 Sophomore 3mp, 0.99 gaa |
 RS Freshman 2mp, 2.00 gaa |
| All-Time Record Against | 4-0-0 | 0-4-0 |
| Current Streak Against | W4 | L4 |
| Highlanders vs. Thunderbirds All-Time Results Against |
||
| August 22, 2008 at Cedar City, UT |
W, 5-0 |
L, 5-0 |
| September 3, 2006 at Riverside, CA |
W, 3-1 | L, 3-1 |
| September 27, 2004 at Cedar City, UT |
W, 3-0 | L, 3-0 |
| September 7, 2001 at Riverside, CA |
W, 6-0 | L, 6-0 |
GAME NOTES
SEARCHING FOR A NEW SET OF GOALS
The Highlanders scored 32 goals a year ago, but the feet responsible for just 16 of them return for the 2009 season. The biggest loss is all-conference performer Tessa Lennala who paced UCR and the Big West in 2008 with 11 goals and 27 points.
Heidi Gassaway (nee Garrett), who finished fourth in the conference in scoring a year ago with nine goals and 21 points, is the top returning scorer for UCR, however Denise Thomas and Sally Yunker are the two members of the Highlanders to have dented the net so far this year. Yunker's first goal as a collegian was the game-winner in UC Riverside's 1-0 overtime win over Texas State on August 30. Thomas scored her fourth career goal in the Highlanders' 2-1 loss to Oregon State on August 28.
WHITE OUT
Jessica White, who served as Brittany Goetz's backup in goal a year ago seeing action in four matches, is the Highlanders starting keeper in 2009, and she currently boasts a goals against average of 0.99. She picked up the first shutout of her collegiate career in a 1-0 overtime win over Texas State on August 30.
SIDELINE ASSISTANCE
Former San Diego goalkeeper Tommy Tate became a member of the Highlanders coaching staff this summer joining Head Coach Veronica O'Brien and Assistant Coach Kerri Patterson. The UCR coaching family will grow again at the end of the season as Patterson and her husband, Michael, are expecting their first child in December.
OFF THE CHARTS
Heidi Gassaway enters her junior season ranked fifth on the Highlanders career points and goals scored charts and sixth in assists.
| Career Points Leaders | |||
| Player | Years | Points | |
| 1 | Renee Scachetti (29g, 13a) | 2002-05 | 71 |
| 2 | Tessa Lennala (24g, 9a) | 2006-08 | 57 |
| 3 | Jenna Leonti (16g, 11a) | 2004-07 | 43 |
| 4 | Vanessa Chanez (14g, 11a) | 2002-05 | 39 |
| 5 | Heidi Gassaway (13g, 8a) | 2006, 2008 | 34 |
|
Career Goals Leaders
|
|||
| Player | Years | Goals | |
| 1 | Renee Scachetti | 2002-05 | 29 |
| 2 | Tessa Lennala | 2006-08 | 24 |
| 3 | Jenna Leonti | 2004-07 | 16 |
| 4 | Vanessa Chanez | 2002-05 | 14 |
| 5 | Heidi Gassaway | 2006, 2008 | 13 |
| Career Assists Leaders | |||
| Player | Years | Assists | |
| 1 | Renee Scachetti | 2002-05 | 13 |
| 2 | Vanessa Chanez | 2002-05 | 11 |
| Jenna Leonti | 2004-07 | 11 | |
| 4 | Amber Plumlee | 2002-06 | 10 |
| 5 | Tessa Lennala | 2006-08 | 9 |
| 6T | Heidi Gassaway | 2006, 2008 | 8 |
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