IRVINE, Calif. – Four, Three, Two, One.

That is exactly how you can count down the margin of victory over the last four games for the nationally ranked Concordia University Irvine women's soccer team.

Tangled in a tight contest that went right down to the final minute, No. 19 Concordia passed its toughest test yet with a hard-fought 1-0 home victory over Cal Poly Humboldt.

The Golden Eagles have now posted four consecutive shutouts to open the regular season and overwhelmingly outscored their opposition 10-0.

In this game with the Lumberjacks, it was far from a cakewalk. Cal Poly Humboldt was not deterred and challenged CUI repeatedly in the second half, but the Green and Gold were fortunate to score an early goal and play most of the contest with the lead.

Hailey Havican net her fourth goal of the year in just the sixth minute of action.  Maddie Lauro found Ashley Grubert free near the right wing as CUI built its attack in the early going. 

Grubert crossed the ball into the box, but the CPH goalie came out to meet the moment and knocked down the ball briefly. After some quick pinball action back and forth, Havican came away with it and quickly shot the ball to the left corner pocket to give CUI the lead.

That moment was so important because neither team conceded a goal after that for the rest of the night.

Starting goalkeeper Riley Urquiza made several key stops including a second half save that required full extension towards the top right corner of the net. Urquiza finished with six saves and teamed up with her fellow Golden Eagles to post a fourth straight clean sheet to open the 2024 season.

The Lumberjacks applied more pressure in the second half and had multiple chances to tie the game. But a handful of their scoring opportunities ended with shots wide of the net and the visitors could not complete the thought to net the equalizer. 

According to the CUI women's soccer record books, this is the first win for the Green and Gold over the Lumberjacks since 2005. The non-conference teams have only played twice in their history and Concordia also won the first matchup 19 years ago.

Up next for the Golden Eagles is a trip down to San Marcos for a non-conference tilt with the Cougars from the CCAA.  PacWest Conference play opens after that as CUI prepares to face Menlo College for the first time since that school joined the NCAA DII ranks. CUI was coming off a 2-0 home win Thursday night over San Francisco State.

The next home game for the ladies is Thursday, Oct. 3 at 6:30 p.m. against Biola as the second game of a doubleheader with the men.

CLICK HERE for the full CUI women's soccer schedule