RIVERSIDE, Calif.—The UC Riverside Women's Soccer team begins its most important games of the season, starting Thursday night against Hawai'i. The team will then travel to UC Davis on Sunday to finish out the regular season.

The Highlanders are currently sitting in sixth place in the Big West with a 2-2-2 record (8 points). Hawai'i is currently at No. 5 with a 3-3 record (9 points) and UC Davis is at No. 4 with a a 3-2-1 record (10 points). The top four teams make it to the Big West Conference Championship Tournament.

With it being such a tight race, the Highlanders know how vital these two games will be to their playoff hopes.

"I can't remember it being this close to decide who gets into the tournament," head coach Nat Gonzalez said. "We control our own destiny. If we win, we are in. That's all we can ask for."

SCOUTING THE RAINBOW WAHINE

The Rainbow Wahine went 1-1 against conference opponents this past weekend, beating Cal Poly, 4-0, and losing, 1-0, to UCSB. UH remains in the top three of every significant offensive category within the conference, including total goals, goals per game, assists and assists per game.

SCOUTING THE AGGIES

UC Davis plays Long Beach State on Thursday. In its previous match last Sunday vs. CSUN, the Aggies got a 1-0 win. The Aggies come into this week's play having won their last three matches and three of their last five.

HOW DO THE HIGHLANDERS STACK UP?

UCR is 4-3-1 all-time vs. Hawai'i. Last season, the Highlanders picked up a 4-0 win at home. However, UCR is 0-3 on the road. Against UC Davis, UCR got a 3-0 win last season at home. The Highlanders are 7-4-3 all-time and 1-2-3 on the road.

DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE

Goalie Annie Bailey has allowed just four goals on the season, ranks second in save percentage (.929) and fifth in goals against average (.335) in the NCAA.