RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Head Coach Nathaniel Gonzalez is geared up and ready to go, releasing the University of California, Riverside (UCR) 2021 women's soccer schedule after enduring a two-season hiatus due to interruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Coach Gonzalez said of the 2021 slate, "The theme for everyone, I am sure, is fresh start. We are excited and feeling fresh as we begin the 2021 season, we have our new logo on the uniforms and our field. We have 16 student-athletes that have not played in a fall match and two new coaches that will be the on the sidelines for the Highlanders this season." He continued, "We can't wait to get out there!"
The 17-game regular season features six non-conference matches against opponents from California and Utah. The 11 game Big West Conference season features two new opponents for the Highlanders, the University of California, San Diego and Cal State Bakersfield, who joined the Big West in the abbreviated 2020 season.
Coach Gonzalez's Highlanders begin the 2021 season, their first season since 2019, hosting a Crosstown Showdown match against local rivals, the California Baptist University Lancers on Saturday, August 21 at 7:30 PM.
The following Thursday, August 26, UC Riverside will play its first road game of the season, traveling to Loyola Marymount University for a 7:00 PM kickoff.
The Highlanders are back home at the UCR Soccer Stadium hosting Pepperdine that weekend, Saturday, August 29 at 7:30 PM.
On Friday, September 3, UCR travels north to Moraga, Calif. to challenge the Gaels on their home turf, at 1:00 PM.
Coach Gonzalez and his squad remain on the road the following weekend, traveling to Utah for a pair of games. On Friday, September 10 the Highlanders will face Utah State at 12:00 PM in Logan, Utah. On Sunday, September 13 they head to Ogden, Utah to play against Weber State, kicking off at 12:00 PM.
Gonzalez spoke of the competition his young team will face this season, saying "We are very excited for the challenge of a heavy WCC non-conference schedule as well as playing the two newest members of the Big West! Not to mention the Crosstown Showdown match to start us off on August 21."
As final preparation for the Big West Season, UCR will face the Titans of Cal State Fullerton in a non-conference contest in Fullerton on Wednesday, September 15 at 7:00 PM.
UC Riverside kicks off the official Big West season with two road games. First, they travel upstate to Santa Barbara to play the Gauchos at University of California, Santa Barbara, kicking off at 7:00 PM on Thursday, September 23.
The Highlanders finish off their streak of six road games in San Luis Obispo, Calif, taking on the Cal Poly Mustangs on Sunday, September 26 at 12:00 PM.
The team returns to the Inland Empire to host their first Big West Conference home game on Thursday, September 30 at 7:00 PM, welcoming Long Beach State University to the UCR Soccer Stadium.
On Sunday, October 3 at 1:00 PM the team will take the field against the Anteaters of UC Irvine on the road in Irvine, Calif.
The Rainbow Wahine of the University of Hawaii will cross the Pacific Ocean to compete against the Highlanders at home at the UCR Soccer Stadium on Thursday, October 7 at 7:30 PM.
Conference play continues that weekend as the UC Davis Aggies travel to Riverside for a match on Sunday, October 10 at 2:00 PM.
The Highlanders are back on the road the following Thursday, October 14, playing CSUN in Northridge, Calif. at 7:00 PM.
The final road game of the season will take place against one of two new opponents in the Big West, University of California, San Diego on Thursday, October 21 at 6:00 PM.
The following Thursday, October 28 at 7:00 PM, the Highlanders will host their first Big West contest against the other new conference opponent, the Roadrunners of California State University Bakersfield.
The final game of the regular season and Senior Day 2021 will take place on Halloween Sunday, October 31 at 2:00 PM against the California State University Fullerton Titans.
The complete 2021 women's soccer schedule can be viewed
HERE.
We are thrilled to welcome fans back to the UC Riverside Soccer stadium with free admittance this fall as a thank you for supporting UCR Athletics throughout the past two seasons when UCR Soccer was unable to compete due to COVID-19.
When attending a UCR soccer match, for the safety of all Highlanders please remember to:
- Wear a mask at all times
- Social distance and keep 6 feet away from others
- Stay off the field at all times
The gates will open 30 minutes before kickoff and we ask that parents and fans depart the stadium promptly after the conclusion of the game.
Thank you for keeping our Highlanders safe.
We are so happy to be back!
#GoHighlanders
