#24 Done! Brittany Scores the Game Winner.

Riverside—The UC Riverside Women’s Soccer Team got back on the winning track Thursday evening as they upended visiting UC Irvine, 1-0.

The Anteaters had revenge on their collective minds following last year’s loss to the Highlanders in the Big West Conference semifinals (box score/recap/video recap), but instead it was UC Riverside winning back-to-back matches against Irvine for the first time in the history of the program.

The Highlanders outshot the ‘Eaters 7-5 in the first period, with the big kick coming off the foot of Brittany Mata. Tyler Cunningham drove the ball into the left hand corner and crossed it to Blanca Barrio. Barrio then flicked it to Mata in the right side of the box, and the sophomore pounded the ball into the back of the net from six yards out.

Those were the sixth assists of the year for Cunningham and Barrio tying them with Vanessa Chanez and Amber Plumlee for the program record for assists in a season.

UC Irvine pressed for the equalizer in the second half, outshooting UCR five to two, but the Highlanders’ defense kept its net clean to preserve the shutout.

UC Riverside hits the road this Sunday, October 12 for a 4 pm PT kick off at CSUN.

Out of all of the goals on this year’s list, this was the one I wanted the most. My dad and I both jumped out of our seats and got a little misty eyed watching her teammates swarm her. A full cart of groceries was her reward.