Women’s Soccer Pulls Ahead Late for First Win

Sunday, August 23

Kansas City, Mo.

11:00 am

UC Riverside

1-2-0, 0-0-0

Kansas City

0-2-1, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
UC Riverside	1	2	3
Kansas City	1	0	1

Photo by: Kansas City Athletics

Women’s Soccer Pulls Ahead Late for First Win

8/23/2026 1:34:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Highlanders get first win of 2026 in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY - UC Riverside (1-2-0, 0-0-0 Big West) used a quick succession of second half goals to push past Kansas City (0-2-1, 0-0-0 Summit League), 3-1, on Sunday at Durwood Soccer Stadium.

Sanaa Guyness made her 50th UCR appearance as the Highlanders secured their first non-conference road win since 2024 and first non-conference three-goal performance since 2022.

Mia DiLeo won a free kick about 25 yards from goal in the 13th minute. Consecutive shots from Finley Aghassi went into the Kansas City wall before Aghassi took the ensuing corner. UCR kept possession in the final third for a brief period afterwards.

KC's keeper met Harlem Hipps' opportunity off her right boot in the 14th. Hipps crossed a dangerous ball into the box in the 23rd minute that the defense cleared.

UCR didn't concede its first shot on goal until the 28th minute. Kansas City's attack buzzed around the final third, but UCR's back line withstood pressure as KaMia Elliott maintained the 0-0 scoreline with a pair of saves.

The deadlock didn't last though, as the hosts broke through from the penalty spot in the 35th minute.

UCR launched an attack in the 38th minute and pushed down the left flank. Lauren Nguyen let one go from distance right at the keeper, and Daisy Miller hit one over the crossbar a minute later. Kansas City countered with a push up the opposite flank, and Elliott pushed aside the attempt to minimize the damage.

Drama ensued in front of both keepers as halftime approached. KC won another penalty in the 41st minute, but VAR overturned the alleged foul on Nguyen. Shortly after, Morgan Humphrey opened her college account by finishing a pass from Audrey Stewart in the 44th minute.

UCR was forced on its heels right out of halftime. The Highlanders cleared away an immediate threat off the opening second half whistle, and Elliott was forced to step in and pull a ball out of the air a little over five minutes into the second half.

DiLeo crossed a ball to the back post in the 60th minute, but couldn't find a connection to put UCR in front. Kansas City went back on the offensive in the 63rd minute in striking range, but a clogged middle of the six-yard box did well to divert KC's efforts.

UCR went up a player in the 67th minute after a second yellow to Kansas City, and capitalized appropriately. In quick succession, Albertine Faye converted a penalty in the 76th minute before Aghassi finished off a low cross from DiLeo in the 77th.

Game management soon settled in, as UCR used the remaining 13 minutes to push its first win of the season over the line.

UC Riverside goes again on Thursday, August 27, hosting Utah Tech at the UCR Soccer Stadium at 7:30 pm. Tickets are available now at GoHighlanders.com.