6-7-5, 2-5-0BWC
UC Riverside
10-8-0, 4-3-0BWC
UC Riverside Tops Cal Poly 2-0
10/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Despite being outshot 12-9 by Cal Poly, the UC Riverside women's soccer team prevailed 2-0 in Alex G. Spanos Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Highlanders scored in the ninth minute, when Brittany Mata shot over the onrushing goalkeeper into a momentarily empty net from just inside the top-right portion of the 18-yard box.
Mustang sophomores Emily Hansen and Gianna Rosati (the latter on a header) shot wide-right and high in the first half, but perhaps Cal Poly's best chance before the break came on a 21st-minute exchange upfield between senior Elise Krieghoff and junior Kendra Bonsall.
After a give-and-go approaching the penalty area, Krieghoff led Bonsall ahead, but UCR keeper Elizabeth Silas ran up in time, resulting in an injuring collision, as Bonsall was helped off during the clock stoppage.
UCR then tallied the other goal in the 49th minute, as Amber Marani delivered a free kick on the right flank from 30 yards to the left post, where Tyler Cunningham headed in her seventh score of the year.
Krieghoff forced Silas into saves in the 75th and 76th minutes, and junior Megan Abutin also shot on target in the 73rd.
Part of a 10-5 second-half shots discrepancy favoring Cal Poly, another opportunity was created in the 79th minute, when senior defender Robin Mertens came forward to blast a centered attempt from 25 yards away to the upper-left corner, where Silas made a leaping deflection to maintain her clean sheet.
The Mustangs will now wrap up the season by hosting Cal State Fullerton for Senior Day at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. The program will honor a class of nine graduating student-athletes in the hour leading up to kickoff.
Team Stats
Mata, Brittany (2)
Assisted By: Bustamante, Alexa
Shot into empty net from 15 yards on rig
8:16
Cunningham, Tyler (7)
Assisted By: Marani, Amber
Free kick from right side, 30 yards out,
48:48
