IRVINE, Calif. – For the first time since 2019, the Concordia women's soccer team boasts a program record eight All-PacWest players.
This ties the school record for most All-Conference selections in the NCAA DII era for head coach
Chris Gould's squad.
The announcement came on the eve of Concordia's big semifinal match against Hawaii Hilo in the new
PacWest Conference Tournament – which will take place this Thursday, Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at nearby Orange County Great Park - Field #18 in Irvine.
CUI Athletics is offering to pay for the first 100 Concordia students/faculty/staff to get in FREE who attend the playoff game this Thursday - especially since the game is so close to campus.
After an outstanding regular season that included being a part of nine shutouts,
Riley Urquiza became PacWest Co-Goalkeeper of the Year along with Julia Pinnell of Point Loma.
First Team Selections (4): Hailey Havican, Madison Hall, Olivia Ocampo, Riley Urquiza
Urquiza enters the PacWest Tournament having allowed only six goals all season and ranked fourth in the entire country in GAA (0.39). She also led the league in GAA and Save percentage (.857) and was second in shutouts as the only goalie in the Top 2 in those three categories. Earlier this fall, she moved into second place in CUI program history in career shutouts (20).
Havican led CUI with 10 goals and 25 points and was second in the entire conference in both categories. She was also second on her squad with five assists… Among the most potent attackers in our league - not only for number of goals, but goals and assists against the top programs in our conference. PacWest Player of the Week in October and had Game-winning goals against San Francisco State, Cal Poly Humboldt & Jessup.
Fellow Cypress High School alum
Olivia Ocampo garnered her third All-Conference recognition after being named PacWest Freshman of the Year and making the Second Team back in 2021. This is the second straight season she is a First Team selection.
Junior defender
Madison Hall started all 16 games and quarterbacked the back line that posted nine shutouts, including eight in a row to open the season. She played the full 90 minutes in 14 of those 16 contest and only subbed out in two blowout victories. She was named PacWest Defender of the Week midseason.
Second Team All-PacWest (1): Ashley Grubert
The sophomore defender provided a huge boost on both ends of the pitch for the Golden Eagles. Grubert amassed three goals and one assist while starting all 16 games. She made plays in key moments as a member of the eighth best defense in the country that only allowed seven goals and posted nine clean sheets, including eight in a row.
Third Team Selections (3): Nikki Marino, Sophia Munoz, Sarah Venegas
Marino tallied two goals and dished out a team-best six assists in 14 starts. She set up most of the goals as a target forward and earned most of the PK's for her team. She also had a key moment when she scored the game-winning goal vs. Cal State San Bernardino.
Munoz leveled up as a defender and finished the regular season with two goals and three assists. She picked her spots and had a knack of knowing when to join the attack as evident when she stunned Vanguard with a beautiful game-winner from well outside the box. Munoz started all 16 games and that game-winner against the Lions helped CUI clinch their PacWest Tournament berth.
Venegas also played in all 16 games and emerged with four goals and one assist as a super sub impact contributor. She had one of the highest goals per minutes played in the conference and net the game-winner against Biola. Her nine points ranked fifth on the team.
As the No. 3 seed, CUI faces No. 2 seed Hawaii Hilo in the PacWest semifinal Thursday evening at Great Park barely 15 minutes from Concordia's campus. A victory by CUI would set up a Saturday date with the Point Loma-Westmont winner in the PacWest Conference Championship Game. Both the Golden Eagles and Vulcans finished 9-1-1 in the conference play. Concordia's only loss was at Azusa Pacific, while Point Loma's lone loss came at the hands of the Golden Eagles. Hawaii Hilo only dropped their match at Westmont in league action.
CLICK HERE for the full CUI women's soccer schedule
