UCC RiverHawks Split NWAC Friendlies, Fall to Whatcom, Bounce Back with Win Over South Puget Sound
Roseburg, OR – The Umpqua Community College women's soccer team wrapped up a back-to-back series of NWAC friendlies this week, dropping a narrow 1-0 match to Whatcom on Tuesday before rebounding with a strong 2-1 victory over South Puget Sound on Wednesday.
Tuesday, August 19 – UCC Falls to Whatcom 1-0
Despite a solid defensive showing and an exceptional effort from goalkeeper Emersyn Gutierrez, the RiverHawks were edged by Whatcom Community College in a tightly contested 1-0 match. Gutierrez played the full 90 minutes and recorded 10 saves on 11 shots on goal, allowing just one goal in the first half.
Umpqua struggled to convert in the attacking third, finishing with 7 total shots and 2 shots on target.
Top Performers vs. Whatcom:
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Emersyn Gutierrez (GK): 10 saves, 1 GA, 90 minutes
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Lola Maniscalco: 3 shots
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Katrina Beltran: 2 shots, 1 SOG
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Hailey Clay: 1 shot, 1 SOG
Wednesday, August 20 – UCC Defeats South Puget Sound 2-1
The RiverHawks bounced back in dominant fashion, claiming a 2-1 win over South Puget Sound Community College. Umpqua put together a well-rounded attacking display with 17 total shots and 9 on goal, while freshman goalkeeper Kayden Twichell delivered a confident performance in her debut start.
Hailey Clay and Katrina Beltran led the offense, each scoring once and assisting the other.
Scoring Summary vs. SPSCC:
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Goal – Hailey Clay (Assist: Katrina Beltran)
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Goal – Katrina Beltran (Assist: Hailey Clay)
Top Performers vs. SPSCC:
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Hailey Clay: 4 shots, 3 SOG, 1 goal, 1 assist
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Katrina Beltran: 3 shots, 1 SOG, 1 goal, 1 assist
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Ginne Saavedra: 3 shots, 2 SOG
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Jackie Gregory: 2 shots, 1 SOG
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Savannah Sanders: 1 shot, 1 SOG
Goalkeeper Performances – Week Recap
| Goalkeeper | Opponent | SOG Faced | Goals Allowed | Saves | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emersyn Gutierrez (L) | Whatcom | 11 | 1 | 10 | 90:00 |
| Kayden Twichell (W) | South Puget Sound | 8 | 1 | 7 | 90:00 |
RiverHawks Outlook
"These friendlies are about more than results," said Head Coach Arroyo. "It's about building cohesion and getting everyone match-ready. We saw a lot of growth this week — Emersyn and Kayden were excellent in goal, and our attacking pieces are starting to connect."
UCC will continue its preseason slate next Tuesday (8/26) at College of the Redwoods before opening NWAC regular season play August 30.
