Riverside—The UC Riverside Women's Soccer Team begins the home portion of it 2016 schedule this weekend with matches against South Dakota on Friday, August 26 at 8:30 pm PT, and vs. North Dakota State on Sunday, August 28 at 7 pm. Friday's match is the nightcap of a double header with the Men's Team (vs. California Baptist University at 6 pm), and one ticket gets fans into both matches.
The Highlanders began the season on the road, tying San Jose State in the season opener, 0-0 (
box score/
recap) and dropping a 2-1 decision at San Francisco (
box score/
recap). Senior Tayler Dragoo picked up the first score of her career in the loss to the Dons.
South Dakota split its first two matches of the season, blanking Idaho, 1-0, before falling 2-0 in double overtime to North Dakota. Amanda Carpio has the lone score of the season for the Coyotes. Last year's leading scorer Corey Strang (11 goals, 5 assists), picked up the assist on Carpio's score
Sydney Hardin started 13 of 18 matches a year ago for South Dakota, while Rytz Parker picked up the other four starts. Parker has started each of the first two matches of the year, but Hardin has actually played more minutes (97:22 to 90:00). Parker has yet to allow a goal this year, while Hardin has a goals against average of 0.92.
The Highlanders are 1-0 all-time against South Dakota, beating the Coyotes, 2-0, on the road (
box score/
recap). Sammy Arellano scored both goals in the victory.
North Dakota State also split its first two matches of the year, dropping a 1-0 decision to Drake, while blanking Northern Iowa 2-0. Amy Yang and Autumn Muckenhirm lead the Bison with one goal apiece. Monica Folger has played all 180 minutes between the pipes for NDSU, and has a goals against average of 0.50 on the season.
UC Riverside is 2-0-0 all-time against the Bison, defeating North Dakota State 3-0 back in 2005 (
box score) and 1-0 a year ago (
box score/
recap). Blanca Barrio netted the game-winner a year ago on a penalty kick in the first period.
GAME NOTES
THOSE WHO DO NOT STUDY HISTORY ARE DOOMED TO REPEAT IT
Three years ago, Big West coaches picked the Highlanders to finish last in the conference. UC Riverside finished third and advanced to the Big West Championship Game before falling to Cal State Fullerton via penalty kicks.
Two years ago, Big West coaches again picked the Highlanders to finish last only to watch as UCR finished in fifth place, one game out of playoff spot.
Last season, conference coaches pegged UC Riverside to come in eighth place, and they finished fourth, advancing to their second conference tournament in three years.
This year, the Highlanders are picked to finish sixth. When will they ever learn.
LENDING A HELPING FOOT
In just two years with the Highlanders, Blanca Barrio ranks second on the Highlanders' career assists chart with 13. That is two assists behind Tyler Cunningham's record of 15.
SEVEN YEAR ITCH
Tyler Cunningham's seven goals last year were the most for a member of the Highlanders since Tessa Lennala netted 11 back in the 2009 campaign.
DOUBLE DIGITS
The Highlanders reached the 10-win plateau last year for the first time since the 2006 season.
| Year |
W |
L |
T |
| 2004 |
13 |
2 |
3 |
| 2003 |
11 |
7 |
3 |
| 2005 |
11 |
4 |
6 |
| 2015 |
11 |
9 |
0 |
| 2002 |
10 |
8 |
1 |
| 2006 |
10 |
7 |
1 |
GONE STREAKING
The Highlanders won three straight matches from August 30 through September 6, 2015. That marked the first time UCR won three straight since the 2009 season. They also won three straight from October 9 through 16, 2015. The last time UC Riverside won four matches in a row was early in the 2006 season.
ONE IS THE LONELIEST NUMBER
Elizabeth Silas posted a goals against average of 0.94 last season, becoming just the third keeper in program history to record a sub-1.00 GAA. The other two are Tawny Poggio, who did it three times (0.69 in 2004, 0.81 in 2005, and 0.88 in 2003) and Jessica White (0.80 in 2009).
THE MAGIC NUMBER IS TWO
The Highlanders are 28-4-2 over the past four seasons when scoring two or more goals in a match. Their last loss when scoring two or more goals was a 3-2, double overtime decision at UC Santa Barbara this year.
RARIFIED AIR
The 2015 Highlanders five conference wins last year tied the program record for most Big West wins in a season.
| Season |
W |
L |
T |
Pts |
Place |
| 2003 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
16 |
Third |
| 2015 |
5 |
3 |
0 |
15 |
Fourth |
| 2005 |
4 |
0 |
3 |
15 |
Second |
| 2002 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
13 |
Sixth |
| 2013 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
12 |
Third |
PRESEASON ACCOLADES
Big West coaches named UC Riverside junior forward Blanca Barrio to the preseason All-Conference Team.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Sixteen different Highlanders dented the back of the net in 2014, which is the most in the history of the program. Twelve different players had 28 total scores for the team last season.
