RENO, Nev. - The University of Nevada women's soccer team (5-3-1) will head out on the road to compete against UC Riverside (1-6-1) Friday and UC Irvine Sunday (6-1-2). Both matches will be held at UC Irvine's Anteater stadium.
The Pack has won its last four matches by a combined score of 10-3, posting three shutouts in a row dating back to its September 12 match with the University of San Francisco.
With a victory over UC Riverside Friday Nevada will equal the program's all-time win streak of five games, set during the 2006 season.
The latest stretch of wins for the Pack has come as a result of timely offense and solid goalkeeping. Natalie Ratnavira and Raylene Larot have emerged as offensive threats for the Pack, and Marie Cove has established herself as a cog in the Nevada defense.
Ratnavira has lived up to her pre-season all-WAC billing, scoring three goals in her last two matches, while Larot has jumped to the top of the team in assists with five.
With fellow pre-season all-WAC performer and senior leader Jill Erickson adding two goals and two assists, the Pack offense looks poised for continued success. The consistency of another senior and one of Nevada's all time leading scorers, Cristen Drummond, has also been an important part of the offense in 2010. Drummond leads the team in shots with 29 and has three goals and two assists.
Cove has not given up a goal since the 88th minute of Nevada's September 10 match against Sacramento State, a scoreless streak of 282 minutes. Her next individual shutout will give her nine for her career, making her Nevada's all-time leader.
UC Riverside has struggled so far this year, winning only once, against Texas State September 3.
UC Irvine is led offensively by senior Tanya Taylor, who has five goals and three assists. The Anteaters have won their last three contests by shutout, defeating San Francisco, Fresno State and San Diego by scores of 2-0, 2-0 and 1-0 respectively.
Danielle de Seriere has started all nine games in goal for UCI this year. A senior from Cerritos, Calif. de Seriere has made 27 saves and posted a .95 goals against average to date.
Nevada will return home to open the WAC season against New Mexico State Friday October 1 at 7 p.m. at Mackay Stadium.
