After the women’s soccer team tied its match with UC Riverside early in the second half, the Highlanders earned a goal later in the half and held on for a 2-1 victory over the Redhawks Sunday afternoon at UCR Soccer Stadium.
Just over ten minutes into the second half, after the defense had held off three shots from UC Riverside that would have extended the 1-0 lead, the Redhawks earned a corner kick opportunity. Kassandra Riozzi (, ) sent the kick into the pass, and Jamie Coe () used her head to guide the ball into the net for her team-leading ninth goal of the season, with Riozzi picking up her fifth assist of the year.
UC Riverside (8-10-2) struck back five minutes later, as a free kick by Heidi Garrett from about 40 yards out eluded Seattle goalie Madison Goverde (Snohomish, Wash.) and sailed into the net for the eventual game-winning tally. ’s best chance to tie the match came with less than 12 minutes remaining in regulation, as a corner kick by M'ily Reiter () was headed towards the goal by Madison Collins (Boise, Idaho), but a Highlander defender kept the ball from crossing the goal line.
Coe had two solid chances late in the first half to give the Redhawks the early lead, but Highlander goalie Brittany Goetz was able to stop both shots. With 1:30 remaining before halftime, Lauren Leonard sent a cross into the box that was headed by Tessa Lennala towards the net. Goverde deflected the ball, but it rolled off her into the net for Lennala’s 11th goal of the season.
Each team finished with 14 total shots, with Goverde earning four saves and Goetz finishing with three saves. Coe led with five shots, while Kahlyn Keilty-Lucas (Minneapolis, Minn.) finished with four shots during the afternoon.
(10-5-3) returns home for the final two matches of the season, beginning Wednesday, Nov. 5, against beginning at 2 p.m. at Championship Field. ’s comes to town for the season finale Sunday, Nov. 9, starting at 1 p.m. at Championship Field, with Senior Day ceremonies preceding the match.