RIVERSIDE, Calif. - UC Riverside reached new heights in its 20th year as a member of the Big West Conference, as the Highlanders, both in team and individual fashion, made noise on and off the field of competition in a number of respects. Standout moments that put the college sports landscape on notice were the tip of the iceberg for a department that showcased what perseverance, adversity and determination truly means in the context of Division I collegiate athletics.
From a viral buzzer beater that shook the college basketball world to numerous All-Big West and All-Big West Academic nods and everything in between, UC Riverside ultimately showed in the 2021-22 school year that it will play anyone, anywhere, at any time.
Our first spotlight of the week is on the Highlanders' men's and women's soccer programs that excelled on and off the pitch, and inside and outside of the Inland Empire.
Men's Soccer
Head coach Tim Cupello's Highlanders kicked off 2021 on a hot note with a 3-0-0 start and a +6 goal differential in that span, starting 2-0-0 for the second straight season. UCR's season-opening 3-0 win at Niagara was the program's first three-goal outing since the 2018 Big West semifinal. The Highlanders came out of the opening weekend at No. 5 in the United Soccer Coaches D1 Far West Region poll.
Three Big West wins in a span of four matches helped the Highlanders earn the No. 6 seed in the Big West Tournament. 14 days removed from a 1-1 draw with Cal Poly in Riverside, the two sides squared off in San Luis Obispo where UCR scored the 1-0 upset over the third-seeded Mustangs.
Five Highlanders - Freymar Omarsson, Oscar Penate, Jonick Pineda, Leopoldo Hernandez and Carlos Gonzalez - earned All-Big West distinction, while 17 earned Big West All-Academic honors following the program's fifth Big West semifinal appearance in program history and first since the 2018 Big West championship season.
Women's Soccer
UC Riverside scored its first win over California Baptist in program history in 2021 before a thrilling victory over Loyola Marymount to cap off a 2-0 start to the season. UCR also fought for a scoreless draw with fourth-place Long Beach State in late September and downed UC Davis.
The Highlanders had a young goalkeeper corps leading the way for the season, led by sophomore Caela Kaio (eight starts) and freshman Cassia Souza (nine starts).
Outside of the Inland Empire, the program was well represented on the national stage. Highlanders head coach Nat Gonzalez led the Puerto Rican women's national team into the CONCACAF women's qualifiers after being named head coach in September, coaching UCR sisters Daphane and Jazmine Mendez in the group stage, while former Highlander Quinley Quezada represented the Philippines.
Stay tuned all week for more sport-by-sport looks at the 2021-22 UC Riverside Athletics season in review.
