Riverside, CA—The UC Riverside Men's Soccer Team (1-10-0, 1-3-0) looks to build momentum this week as it heads back on the road to face UC Irvine (6-4-3, 1-1-2) on Wednesday, October 11, before returning home to play Cal State Fullerton (7-5-1, 2-2-0) this Saturday, October 14. Both games will kickoff at 7 pm PT.
GAME NOTES
CAN'T SHUT US OUT
The Highlanders have scored at least one goal in five straight matches and in six of of their last seven outings. Their current streak of matches with a goal is tied for the fourth-longest run since 2013.
Consecutive Games
with a Goal |
Goals |
Dates (Since 2013) |
| 14 |
24 |
Aug. 26-Oct. 12, 2016 |
| 7 |
12 |
Sep. 4-25, 2015 |
| 7 |
10 |
Oct. 18-Nov. 5, 2014 |
| 5 |
8 |
Oct. 26-Nov. 12, 2013 |
| 5 (Current) |
6 |
Sep. 24, 2017-?? |
OUT OF THE GATES
With a score against UC Irvine on Wednesday, UC Riverside will avoid being shutout for the fifth straight match to open Big West play. That would tie the program record for the most consecutive games with a goal to open the conference season.
Games with a Goal
to Open Big West |
Goals |
Dates |
| 5 |
10 |
Sep. 29-Oct. 12, 2016 |
| 4 (Current) |
5 |
Sep. 28, 2017-?? |
| 3 |
4 |
Oct. 3-Oct. 10, 2007 |
| 2 |
8 |
Sep. 28-30, 2012 |
| 2 |
2 |
Sep. 30-Oct. 7, 2009 |
THE STRIKER
Junior forward
Antonio Lokossou enters Wednesday's match having notched a goal in three of his last six appearances for UCR. His 62nd minute score in the 2-0 win over UC Davis on October 7 (
box score/
recap) proved to be the Highlanders' first game-winner of the season. Lokossou's team-leading three goals put him in a tie for tenth-most in the Big West. He is also tied for the team-high in points (6) and ranks third in shots (16).
DEFENSE STEPS UP
The Highlanders' shutout over the Aggies was their first of the season and the first in their last nine Big West outings. Prior to Saturday's win, UC Riverside's most recent shutout had been a 3-0 victory over UC Irvine on October 12, 2016 (
box score/
recap).
HOME SWEET HOME
Following a quick one-game road trip to UC Irvine on Wednesday, the Highlanders return to Riverside for just their fourth home match of the season on Saturday. UCR is 6-4-1 at home since the start of last season.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
In the Highlanders' four Big West games thus far, five goals have been scored by five different players. UC Riverside also had five goalscorers at this point in the 2016 season, when it got off to an undefeated 3-0-1 start to conference.
THE CATALYST
Since notching a goal at Cal Poly in the Highlanders' conference opener on September 28 (
box score/
recap), sophomore forward
Anthony Lopez has held team-highs in both points (6) and assists (2). His team-leading 21 shots are also good for fourth in the Big West. Against Oregon State on September 3 (
box score/
recap), he provided UC Riverside with its first two-assist performance since
Romario Lomeli did it against UC Irvine on October 12, 2016.
FIRE AWAY
UC Riverside has reached double-digit shot totals in five of its last seven matches. Over their last seven contests, the Highlanders have taken 91 shots, averaging 13 per game. That is nearly two shots per game higher than their season average (11.1).
BIG WEST SUCCESS
Last year, the Highlanders tied the program record for Big West wins, finishing with four victories for the third time in four years. Their nine total wins were just one shy of the program's Division I record for wins in a season.
| Most Big West Wins, Season, Team |
| W-L-T |
Year |
| 4-3-3 |
2011 |
| 4-3-3 |
2014 |
| 4-5-1 |
2004 |
| 4-5-1 |
2013 |
| 4-5-1 |
2016 |
| Most Wins, Season, Team |
| W-L-T |
Year |
| 10-8-0 |
2012 |
| 9-8-3 |
2013 |
| 9-6-4 |
2011 |
| 9-10-1 |
2016 |
THE SAVIOR
Redshirt senior Goalkeeper
Vincent Morales recorded 102 saves last season, which is the second-highest single-season total in UC Riverside history.
| Most Saves, Season, Individual |
| Saves |
Player |
Year |
| 107 |
Brett Bentley |
2001 |
| 102 |
Vincent Morales |
2016 |
| 92 |
Cody Suppé |
2011 |
| 83 |
Ryan Schmitz |
2008 |
| 80 |
Charles Alamo |
2006 |
| 80 |
Charles Alamo |
2004 |
He came within one victory of tying the Highlanders' record for most wins in a season, and one clean sheet from tying the record for most shutouts in a season.
| Most Wins, Season, Individual |
| Wins |
Player |
Year |
| 10 |
Ashkan Khosravi |
2012 |
| 9 |
Vincent Morales |
2016 |
| 9 |
Cody Suppé |
2011 |
| 7 |
Charles Alamo |
2004 |
| Most Shutouts, Season, Individual |
| SHO |
Player |
Year |
| 6 |
Charles Alamo |
2007 |
| 5 |
Vincent Morales |
2016 |
| 4 |
Ashkan Khosravi |
2012 |
| 4 |
KC John |
2013 |
| 4 |
Charles Alamo |
2004 |
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Midfielder
Romario Lomeli ('17) finished his UC Riverside career as the program's career leader in assists.
| Most Assists, Career |
| Player |
Assists |
| Romario Lomeli |
20 |
| Otis Earle |
14 |
| Andrew Villalobos |
11 |
| Luc Harrington |
11 |
| Jordan Arias |
11 |
THE MAGIC NUMBER IS TWO
Since the 2011 season, the Highlanders are 40-4-2 when they score two or more goals in a match.
| Season |
Record Scoring Two-Plus Goals |
| 2017 |
1-2-0 |
| 2016 |
7-1-1 |
| 2015 |
6-0-0 |
| 2014 |
4-0-1 |
| 2013 |
6-0-0 |
| 2012 |
8-1-0 |
| 2011 |
8-0-0 |
POSTSEASON PLAY
The Highlanders advanced to their first-ever Big West Tournament in 2011, setting what was then the Division I era record for wins in the process. They advanced to their second conference tournament in 2012 by finishing third in the South Division of the Big West, and in 2014 season they earned the number one seed in the South Division. They returned to the conference tournament again in 2016 as the three seed in the South Division.
