POMONA, Calif. - The Concordia University Irvine Golden Eagles opened up their 2022 regular season with a matchup against the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos on their turf Thursday night. Concordia ranked third in the PacWest Preseason Poll this year, with CPP finding itself at #2 on the CCAA rankings. CUI fell short in their previous matchup last year at home but looked to produce a different result this time and gain the early attention of the west region.

Neither team gave each other an inch of breathing room in the first half, with both teams seeing early chances to apply pressure. However, CPP found the opener, capitalizing on a mistake and giving themselves the early single-goal advantage.

The Golden Eagles reacted brilliantly after going down a goal, pressuring the home team with offensive prowess. Their efforts paid off in the 21^st minute when Daniela Filipovic collected the ball off a fumbled clearance from the Broncos goalkeeper and pitched it over the CPP back line, kissing the bottom of the crossbar to fall behind the goal line for her first goal as a Golden Eagle. 

The half ended tied, but CUI was keeping the home team on their heels throughout the remainder of the half.

CUI began the second half with great energy, pushing the ball forward up the pitch, eagerly looking for a chance to take the lead. In the 65th minute, Sophie Munoz found the ball at her feet in the right corner and fired a cross into the mix of defenders in the box, with forward Riley Walkington making a run towards the near post. Walkington dove in as the center back brought the cross out of the air, touching the ball away and firing a low strike into the left corner of the Broncos net. 

Walkington and senior Jadenn Carrillo, both members of the Preseason All-PacWest Team, led the team in shots with four apiece. 

Freshman Riley Uruquiza started the second half on Thursday, earning her first official collegiate minutes. She ended the game with three saves and helped lead the team in their comeback win.

It was an outstanding performance from the women's team, and they look forward to their exciting road trip to Washington next week. They will play against two exceptional sides, Western Washington and Simon Fraser, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference members. 

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