IRVINE, Calif. – The Concordia University Irvine women's soccer team topped Fresno Pacific 4-1 on Senior Night thanks to a brace by sophomore
Hailey Havican and stellar play on both sides of the pitch.
Concordia remained unbeaten in conference play and is now just two points behind first-place Hawaii Hilo after the Vulcans were upset by Point Loma 3-0 on Saturday. The Golden Eagles have only conceded three goals this entire season and have won 10 of the last 11 matches they have played.
Havican opened the scoring with a goal off a pass from
Val Cortez roughly 20 minutes into the contest.
Riley Walkington dropped the ball towards the center of the field and Cortez immediately flipped the ball behind her to a cutting Havican who scored smoothly within seconds.
The freshman connection of
Antonella Russo and
Bella Barrett capitalized on another scoring chance late in the first half. Russo gathered the ball and made a beautiful pass to thread the needle to a cutting Barrett who scored slightly after making her first touch.
Havican scored again after a rebound off a set piece. Senior defender Briana Guerra sent a shot on goal into the box and the keeper stopped it, but could not retain possession and the ball bounced right to the foot of Havican. That made it 3-1 CUI and the game felt essentially out of reach by that point.
Walkington later added a breakaway goal to round out the scoring and cap an emotional evening.
"Scoring on Senior Night just felt like an exclamation mark on the evening," admitted Walkington. "Our senior class has given everything we have to this program and I couldn't be more proud of this group."
The Golden Eagles get a week to rest up and prepare for the tricky three-game road trip to the islands to face the three Hawaii schools in the conference. Their next match is Monday, Oct. 30 at Hawai'i Hilo as a doubleheader with the men playing first at 3:30 p.m. PT followed by the women at 6:00 p.m. PT.
It will be a battle of nationally ranked squads on the women's side as the Vulcans were No. 5 this past week and Concordia has held strong at No. 12 in each of the last three United Soccer Coaches National DII Top 25 poll.
CLICK HERE for the updated CUI women's soccer schedule
