IRVINE, Calif. – Freshman Jacinda Rivera notched two goals and an assist in her collegiate debut as Hope International blanked Stanton, 5-0, in women's soccer action on Tuesday at the OC Great Park.
Emma Valenzuela, Shelby Kain and Karissa Frerichs also scored as the Royals won their season opener for the fifth straight year. Jordan Galvin added a pair of assists to secure her first career multi-assist effort.
The Royals did all their damage in a 29-minute stretch during the first half. HIU outshot Stanton 26-4 with Frida Vizcarra leading the way with four.
Twenty-nine Royals saw action with Victoria Ruiz and Brittany Hazelton each playing a half in net. Ruiz earned the win as the first half net minder.
Rivera earned her first career point in the 13th minute as she beat her defender around the right side and slotted a pass in front of the Elk goal. Stanton goalie Maddison Lahargoue got her hand on it, but the ball deflected straight to Valenzuela on the doorstep and she tapped it in for the easy goal.
Indi Stum and Rivera connected on HIU's second goal at the 20:56 mark. Stum latched onto a long pass that came from beyond the midfield line and settled on the left hand side of the goal. Rivera deposited her cross into the lower left portion of the net.
Rivera struck again just over four minutes later. Galvin launched a long pass up the left side that Rivera caught up to. A series of dribbles diagonally into the box allowed her to evade her defender, and her shot squirted past the Elk goalie and into the bottom left of the goal.
Kain scored her goal in the 32nd minute and Frerichs followed in the 42nd to complete the HIU scoring.
HIU outshot Stanton 12-3 in the second half but Elk substitute goalie Prima Nikornnarong tallied five saves to keep the home team off the board.
HIU hosts Redlands on Friday in an 11:00 a.m. scrimmage at the OC Great Park. The Royals next countable game is scheduled for Monday, September 1 against Providence (Mont.). That game will be played at Fullerton College, with a kickoff time of noon.
