Wednesday, October 26
Riverside, CA
7:00 PM
UC Riverside
vs
Cal State Fullerton
Photo by: Gabriel L. Acosta
Men's Soccer In Driver's Seat As Conference Season Winds Down
10/24/2011 8:45:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Riverside—The UC Riverside Men's Soccer Team is in third place in the Big West following last week's wins over Cal State Northdidge (video highlights / box score / recap) and #15 UC Santa Barbara (box score / recap), and the Highlanders find themselves in the driver's seat for a conference postseason berth with just three matches left in the regular season.
With a 3-3-1 mark in the Big West, if the Highlanders win their three final matches, they would be guaranteed a playoff spot. First up is a Wednesday, October 26 home tilt against Cal State Fullerton (7-5-3, 1-4-1). Kick off is slated for 7 pm PT, and fans who are unable to attend may follow along on their computers and select mobile devices via LiveStats.
The Titans were 6-1-2 prior to the start of conference play, but have gone just 1-4-1 so far this season in the Big West. UCR and Cal State Fullerton payed to a 1-1 tie in their first meeting of the season back on October 15 (box score / recap). More recently, the Titans dropped a 1-0 overtime decision at #7 UC Irvine on October 22.
Following the Fullerton match, the Highlanders travel to #7 UC Irvine for a Saturday, October 29 meeting with the Anteaters. Kick off is slate for 7 pm, and fans who are unable to attend may follow along on their computers and select mobile devices via presto sports Primetime.
UC Irvine handed the Highlanders their lone home loss of the season back on October 12 (box score / recap). Since that time, UC Riveriside has gone 2-0-1 to get back in the conference playoff race. The Anteaters, in the meantime, dropped two straight matches before bouncing back with a 1-0 win over Cal State Fullerton on October 22.
UCR had dropped seven straight matches to the Anteaters, with the Highlanders last victory coming on November 7, 2007 by a 2-0 score.
GAME NOTES
ALL I DO IS WIN
With UCR's 3-2 upset road win over UC Santa Barbara on October 22, the Highlanders established a new program record for victories in a season with eight. The previous record was seven set by the 2003 and 2004 squads.
RPI
The second NCAA RPI rankings came out this week, and the Highlanders are currently ranked 47th in the nation. If UC Riverside can maintain that mark, it will be the higest ranking for the program in its 10-plus-year history.
MEAT IN THE SEATS
Attendance at UC Riverside home matches in 2011 was already up 15 percent from a year ago before a crowd of 2,016 saw the team upset #7 UC Santa Barbara on October 28 by a 3-1 score.
That total more than tripled the previous benchmark of 638 set on November 3, 2010 in a 1-0 win over UC Davis. It also pushed UCR's season attendance to 3,572 which broke the record of 3,036 set in 2010.
At the next home match, the Highlanders had 852 in attendance—the second highest total in school history—as they squared off against #7 UC Irvine. UCR is now averaging 717 fans per match with a total of 5,019 fans in seven matches this season—112 percent better than last year's record setting average.
The Highlanders still have two home matches remaining on the 2011 schedule beginning with the team's upcoming match against Cal State Fullerton.
FEELING A LITTLE RANK
The Highlanders 3-1 win over #7 UC Santa Barbara on September 28 was the program's third win against a ranked opponent in the 10-plus year Division I history of the program. A few weeks later, they picked up their fourth-ever win against top-25 competition as they beat #15 UCSB, 3-2 on the road. UC Riverside's first win against a ranked opponent was a 2-0 decision at #21 San Diego State on September 4, 2007. They followed that up with a 2-1 victory over #7 UC Davis on October 18, 2008.
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS
With a pair of wins in Florida on September 23 and 25, the Highlanders improved their non-conference record to 5-2-1 which gives them the most non-conference wins in the history of the program and just the second winning record during their non-conference season during the team's Division I history (2007, 3-2-2).
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Senior Cesar Diaz Pizarro leads the Highlanders this season with 7 goals (tied for 2nd in the conference) and 2 assists for 16 points (T 4th). He is now tied for first in UCR history for game-winning goals, and ranks second in career points and goals.
Career Points
Career Goals
Career Game-Winning Goals
LENDING A HELPING FOOT
The Highlanders recorded 25 assists during the 2010 season which is the most in the Division I history of the program. They have 20 assists this year in 15 matches.
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSIONI
UC Riverside's 23 goals in 2011 are tied for the second most in the Division I history of the program.
SHOOTING BLANKS
The Highlanders were shut out in back-to-back matches on October 1 at UC Davis and on October 9 vs. Cal Poly. The last time UC Riverside failed to score in back-to-back matches was on September 29 and October 2 of the 2010 season as No. 9 UC Irvine topped UCR 3-0 and Cal Poly picked up a 1-0 overtime victory.
SUPPE'MAN
Cody Suppé was credited with 11 saves in the Highlanders 1-1 double overtime tie with San Jose State on September 17 which are the third highest single-match total in the history of the program. That helped him earn Big West Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors. Suppé leads the Big West in saves per match at 4.64. Suppé also broke the UC Riverside record for wins by a keeper in a season, and now has eight on the year.
BACK TO THE FUTURE
Two familiar faces are gracing the sidelines for UC Riverside this season as the team’s original head coach, Nat Gonzalez, has rejoined the staff as an assistant coach, and the team’s career leading scorer, Luc Harrington, has done the same as a volunteer assistant.
HOME COOKING
The Highlanders ran their program-record home unbeaten streak to six matches on September 28 with a 3-1 win over #7 UC Santa Barbara. That streak came to an end on October 12 with a loss to the #7 ranked UC Irvine Anteaters.
DON'T LOOK ETHEL!
UC Riverside ran its overall unbeaten streak to six matches with a 3-1 upset victory over #7 UC Santa Barbara on September 28. The streak came to an end on October 1 in a 1-0 loss at UC Davis. It is the longest unbeaten streak in the 10-plus year history of the program.
With a 3-3-1 mark in the Big West, if the Highlanders win their three final matches, they would be guaranteed a playoff spot. First up is a Wednesday, October 26 home tilt against Cal State Fullerton (7-5-3, 1-4-1). Kick off is slated for 7 pm PT, and fans who are unable to attend may follow along on their computers and select mobile devices via LiveStats.
| Big West Standings (thru 10/23) | W | L | T | Pts |
| UC Irvine | 5 | 2 | 0 | 15 |
| UC Davis | 5 | 2 | 0 | 15 |
| UC Riverside | 3 | 3 | 1 | 10 |
| Cal State Northridge | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| Cal Poly | 3 | 4 | 0 | 9 |
| UC Santa Barbara | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| Cal State Fullerton | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
The Titans were 6-1-2 prior to the start of conference play, but have gone just 1-4-1 so far this season in the Big West. UCR and Cal State Fullerton payed to a 1-1 tie in their first meeting of the season back on October 15 (box score / recap). More recently, the Titans dropped a 1-0 overtime decision at #7 UC Irvine on October 22.
Following the Fullerton match, the Highlanders travel to #7 UC Irvine for a Saturday, October 29 meeting with the Anteaters. Kick off is slate for 7 pm, and fans who are unable to attend may follow along on their computers and select mobile devices via presto sports Primetime.
UC Irvine handed the Highlanders their lone home loss of the season back on October 12 (box score / recap). Since that time, UC Riveriside has gone 2-0-1 to get back in the conference playoff race. The Anteaters, in the meantime, dropped two straight matches before bouncing back with a 1-0 win over Cal State Fullerton on October 22.
UCR had dropped seven straight matches to the Anteaters, with the Highlanders last victory coming on November 7, 2007 by a 2-0 score.
| Highlanders vs. Titans & Anteaters Match Capsule | |||
| UC Riverside |
Cal St. Fullerton |
UC Irvine | |
|
2011 Record & Stats |
8-5-2, 3-3-1 |
7-5-3, 1-4-1 |
13-4-0, 5-2-0 |
| Schedule | Schedule | Schedule | |
| Roster |
Roster |
Roster | |
| Conference | Big West | ||
| Current Streak |
W 2 |
L 1 |
W 1 |
|
Most Recent Box Score |
W, 3-2 at #15 UCSB |
L, 1-0 at UC Irvine |
W, 1-0 vs. Cal St. Fullerton |
| Next Opponent |
Nov. 5 vs. UC Davis |
Oct. 29 vs. UCSB |
Nov. 1 at Cal Poly |
| Top Scorer |
 CesarDiaz Pizzaro Senior 7 gls, 2 ast 16 pts |
 Venegas Senior 6 gls, 4 asts 16 pts |
 Hernandez Senior 6 gls, 7 asts 19 pts  Ibarra Senior 6 gls, 7 asts 19 pts |
|
Top Keeper |
 CodySuppé Senior 14 matches 1.36 gaa, 65 svs |
 Whiddon Senior 15 matches 1.22 gaa, 63 svs |
 Fontein Senior 17 matches 0.97 gaa, 63 svs |
|
All-Time Record vs. |
6-12-3 (View Results) |
4-15-3 (View Results) |
|
| Current Streak | T 1 | L 7 | |
GAME NOTES
ALL I DO IS WIN
With UCR's 3-2 upset road win over UC Santa Barbara on October 22, the Highlanders established a new program record for victories in a season with eight. The previous record was seven set by the 2003 and 2004 squads.
RPI
The second NCAA RPI rankings came out this week, and the Highlanders are currently ranked 47th in the nation. If UC Riverside can maintain that mark, it will be the higest ranking for the program in its 10-plus-year history.
MEAT IN THE SEATS
Attendance at UC Riverside home matches in 2011 was already up 15 percent from a year ago before a crowd of 2,016 saw the team upset #7 UC Santa Barbara on October 28 by a 3-1 score.
That total more than tripled the previous benchmark of 638 set on November 3, 2010 in a 1-0 win over UC Davis. It also pushed UCR's season attendance to 3,572 which broke the record of 3,036 set in 2010.
At the next home match, the Highlanders had 852 in attendance—the second highest total in school history—as they squared off against #7 UC Irvine. UCR is now averaging 717 fans per match with a total of 5,019 fans in seven matches this season—112 percent better than last year's record setting average.
The Highlanders still have two home matches remaining on the 2011 schedule beginning with the team's upcoming match against Cal State Fullerton.
FEELING A LITTLE RANK
The Highlanders 3-1 win over #7 UC Santa Barbara on September 28 was the program's third win against a ranked opponent in the 10-plus year Division I history of the program. A few weeks later, they picked up their fourth-ever win against top-25 competition as they beat #15 UCSB, 3-2 on the road. UC Riverside's first win against a ranked opponent was a 2-0 decision at #21 San Diego State on September 4, 2007. They followed that up with a 2-1 victory over #7 UC Davis on October 18, 2008.
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS
With a pair of wins in Florida on September 23 and 25, the Highlanders improved their non-conference record to 5-2-1 which gives them the most non-conference wins in the history of the program and just the second winning record during their non-conference season during the team's Division I history (2007, 3-2-2).
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Senior Cesar Diaz Pizarro leads the Highlanders this season with 7 goals (tied for 2nd in the conference) and 2 assists for 16 points (T 4th). He is now tied for first in UCR history for game-winning goals, and ranks second in career points and goals.
Career Points
| 57 | Luc Harrington | 23 goals, 11 assists | 2001-04 |
| 43 | Cesar Diaz Pizarro | 18 goals, 7 assists | 2008-11 |
Career Goals
| 23 | Luc Harrington | 2001-04 |
| 18 | Cesar Diaz Pizarro | 2008-11 |
Career Game-Winning Goals
| 7 | Luc Harrington | 2001-04 |
| 7 | Cesar Diaz Pizarro | 2008-11 |
LENDING A HELPING FOOT
The Highlanders recorded 25 assists during the 2010 season which is the most in the Division I history of the program. They have 20 assists this year in 15 matches.
| Single-Season Team Assists | ||
| 25 | 2010 | |
| 22 | 2004 | |
| 20 | 2011 | |
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSIONI
UC Riverside's 23 goals in 2011 are tied for the second most in the Division I history of the program.
| Single-Season Team Goals | ||
| 28 | 2004 | |
| 23 | 2010 | |
| 23 | 2011 | |
SHOOTING BLANKS
The Highlanders were shut out in back-to-back matches on October 1 at UC Davis and on October 9 vs. Cal Poly. The last time UC Riverside failed to score in back-to-back matches was on September 29 and October 2 of the 2010 season as No. 9 UC Irvine topped UCR 3-0 and Cal Poly picked up a 1-0 overtime victory.
SUPPE'MAN
Cody Suppé was credited with 11 saves in the Highlanders 1-1 double overtime tie with San Jose State on September 17 which are the third highest single-match total in the history of the program. That helped him earn Big West Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors. Suppé leads the Big West in saves per match at 4.64. Suppé also broke the UC Riverside record for wins by a keeper in a season, and now has eight on the year.
BACK TO THE FUTURE
Two familiar faces are gracing the sidelines for UC Riverside this season as the team’s original head coach, Nat Gonzalez, has rejoined the staff as an assistant coach, and the team’s career leading scorer, Luc Harrington, has done the same as a volunteer assistant.
HOME COOKING
The Highlanders ran their program-record home unbeaten streak to six matches on September 28 with a 3-1 win over #7 UC Santa Barbara. That streak came to an end on October 12 with a loss to the #7 ranked UC Irvine Anteaters.
DON'T LOOK ETHEL!
UC Riverside ran its overall unbeaten streak to six matches with a 3-1 upset victory over #7 UC Santa Barbara on September 28. The streak came to an end on October 1 in a 1-0 loss at UC Davis. It is the longest unbeaten streak in the 10-plus year history of the program.
Day in the Life: Leilani Juan
Monday, May 04
UCR Student-Athletes cheer on our students.
Friday, May 01
UCR Athletics Director Introductory Full Press Conference
Tuesday, March 24
Athletics Director Greg Paules Introductory Presentation Recap
Tuesday, March 24
