Riverside, Calif.—No one on the UC Riverside Women's Soccer team wants to jinx how well they are playing, but if they beat Denver Friday night, the team will finished non-conference play undefeated.

The Highlanders come into the game 8-0-1, their best start since 2004. The eight wins already match their total from all of last season.

UCR is also the only school in the Big West that is still undefeated and it has the sixth best win percentage (.944) in the NCAA. The team also has the highest win percentage of any school not in a Power 5 conference.

The offense is led by Maddie Feist and Quinley Quezada, who have eight of the team's 11 goals. It's also been near impossible to get anything past defender Amanda Roy and goal keeper Annie Bailey. Roy was named Big West Defensive Player of the Week for her play from Sept. 10-16. The defense has eight shutouts and has allowed just one goal all season.

SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
Denver is 3-3-2 on the season and is coming off a 2-1 loss to Colorado. Freshman Camryn MacMillan has been a bright spot for the team, scoring her third goal in the loss. The team played Denver on Aug. 25 last season on the road and tied 2-2.

DOMINANT DEFENSE
With a .137 goals-against average, UCR comes in at No. 3 in the NCAA and at No. 2 with a .875 shutout percentage.

HOME SWEET HOME
The Highlanders haven't dropped a match at UCR Soccer Stadium since Oct. 12, 2017 against CSUN.

REGIONAL RANKINGS
The Highlanders are ranked No. 4 by the United Soccer Coaches West Regional Poll. Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara are also ranked.