IRVINE, Calif. – Sporting an incredible six-game winning streak, the Concordia University Irvine women's soccer team roared back into the national rankings on Tuesday and now sits at No. 14 in the United Soccer Coaches DII Top 25 Poll.
On the heels of back-to-back home wins over Cal State East Bay and Point Loma, the Golden Eagles are also the PacWest Conference Team of the Week for the third time in September.
CLICK HERE for the updated United Soccer Coaches DII Top 25 Poll
CUI closed out the non-conference portion of its schedule with
a 1-0 triumph over Cal State East Bay last Thursday. That victory also marked career win No. 150 for CUI head coach
Chris Gould and associate head coach
Cheyne Gordon with the women's program.
The Golden Eagles followed that up with
a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Point Loma in the PacWest opener for both squads.
Olivia Ocampo net the game-winner on a penalty kick.
Senior
Brianna Guerra earned the PacWest Defender of the Week Award after helping Concordia secure both shutout victories. She routinely takes free kicks all over the field and is a versatile player who can both clear the ball defensively or aid the attack from long distance.
"Bri has been the rock for our back line," said Coach Gould. "She organizes us when we don't have the ball, wins battles on set pieces, and sets the standard for our team defensively. She has quietly been one of the best center backs at our level."
Two-time Defender of the Week
Riley Urquiza was superb again as Concordia's goalkeeper along with Guerra and the entire back line. The sophomore made a combination of seven saves in those two victories to make it six clean sheets in a row for the Golden Eagles.
Concordia has outscored the opposition by a whopping count of 13-1 over the course of its first seven matches. Senior
Riley Walkington leads Concordia in points with two goals and three assists. Teammates
Val Cortez,
Antonella Russo and Ocampo have already scored twice as well.
The Golden Eagles welcome their local rivals from Biola to town this coming Wednesday, Sept. 27 for their next conference contest. The CUI men play at 3:30 p.m. followed by the women's match at 6:30 p.m.
CLICK HERE for the full CUI women's soccer schedule
