HAYWARD, Calif., -- The Cal State East Bay women's soccer team will have busy week with three games scheduled from Wednesday through Sunday. The Pioneers will host the Dominican Penguins at Pioneer Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, September 5 before traveling to Grand Junction, Colorado for matches against Colorado Mesa on Friday, September 7 and Western State on Sunday, September 9.
 
WEEK IN REVIEW
The Pioneers have gotten off to their first 2-0 start since 2012 with home wins over Academy of Art and Fresno Pacific.
 
The Cal State East Bay women's soccer team opened the 2018 campaign with a 3-0 win over the visiting Academy of Art Urban Knights on Thursday evening, August 30 at Pioneer Stadium.
 
For East Bay it was their second consecutive season opening victory as they shutout ART U in dominating fashion.
 
Sophomore Abby Buitrago (San Jose, Calif.) the Pioneer's leading scorer from last season picked up where she left out as she notched CSUEB's first goal on the season on a perfect pass through the middle of the defense by fellow sophomore Jordan Lemieux (Bothell, Wash.). The goal came in the fourth minute of action as Buitrago ended the night with one goal and Lemieux with one assist.
 
It would not take long for Cal State East Bay to get back in the scoring column as newcomer Chace Miguel (Hollister, Calif.) tallied her first career goal as a Pioneer in the 13th minute of play. Miguel played a perfect shot to the left side of the Urban Knights goalkeeper on a pass from junior Jamie McPherson (San Leandro, Calif.). Miguel finished with one goal and McPherson added a helper on the evening.
 
The Pioneers would light the scoreboard up one last time in the 29th minute of the game on an excellent display of teamwork from senior Eilana Mendoza (Tracy, Calif.) and junior Liz Hernandez (Whittier, Calif.). Hernandez sliced the ART U defense and placed a timely pass down the side to Mendoza who put the shot over the outstretched arms of the Urban Knights goalkeeper.
 
CSUEB was very aggressive on both ends of the field as they out shot ART U 15-1 with 11 shots coming on goal.
 
True freshman Briana Vasquez-Ortiz got the start in goal for the Pioneers and played all 90 minutes while not allowing any goals as she improved to 1-0 on the season.
 
The Cal State East Bay women's soccer team completed their opening week home stand with a 2-0, victory over West Region opponent Fresno Pacific Saturday evening, September 1 at Pioneer Stadium.
 
It was a huge win for the Pioneers as the Sunbirds were picked to finish first in the PacWest this season. It was also CSUEB's second consecutive win over Fresno Pacific and their first 2-0 start to the season since 2012.
 
The Pioneers dominated a physical and aggressive game that featured four yellow cards before the final horn; three of which we issued to Cal State East Bay. All for yellow cards were given out in the final 10 minutes of game action.
 
Cal State East Bay's leading scorer Abby Buitrago (San Jose, Calif.) opened the scoring for the Pioneers as she dribbled a pass from Jordan Lemieux (Bothell, Wash.) down the left side and through the right side of the goal. The score came in the 14th minute of play as CSUEB took a 1-0 lead on Buitrago's second goal on the season and Lemieux's second helper of 2018.
 
CSUEB took a 1-0 lead into the intermission, but sealed the game in the 62nd minute as Liz Hernandez (Whittier, Calif.) put in a shot over the goalie's head off a perfect pass from the right side by junior Chace Miguel (Hollister, Calif.) to give the Pioneers a 2-0 lead. Senior Bri Vallente (Waikoloa, Hawaii) also earned an assist on the play as she weaved through the crowd a forwarded a pass to Miguel.
 
For Hernandez it was her first goal of the season as it was also Chace Miguel and Bri Vallente's first assists of the year as well.
 
Cal State East Bay walked away from Pioneer Stadium with a 2-0, win despite being outshot 8-5 by Fresno Pacific. All eight of the Sunbirds shots came on goal while three of the Pioneers came on the box.
 
Abby Buitrago lead the Pioneers with two shots while Chace Miguel, Liz Hernandez and Savannah Schultz (Folsom, Calif.) all attempted one shot apiece.
 
Freshman goalkeeper Briana Vasquez-Ortiz (Long Beach, Calif.) logged all 90 minutes in the box and compiled a career best eight saves. The Pioneers have yet to allow a goal on the season.
 
PIONEER POINTS
Abby Buitrago (San Jose, Calif.) leads the Pioneers with two goals so far on the season as she scored the game winning goals for Cal State East Bay in both of them matches. She was named CSUEB Student Athlete of the Week for her performance. Jordan Lemieux (Bothell, Wash.) is tops on the Pioneers with two assists.
 
The junior duo of Chace Miguel (Hollister, Calif.) and Liz Hernandez (Whittier, Calif.) have each scored one goal and chipped in one assist for the Pioneers. Eliana Mendoza (Tracy, Calif.) has compiled one goal on the year while Bri Vallente (Waikoloa, Hawaii) and Jamie McPherson (San Leandro, Calif.) have tallied one helper through two games.
 
Freshman goalkeeper Briana Vasquez-Ortiz (Long Beach, Calif.) has logged all 180 minutes in goal for the Pioneers collecting two shutouts and notched a career best eight saves in a 2-0 victory over Fresno Pacific.
 
SCOUTING DOMINICAN
The Dominican Penguins are off to a 0-1-1 start to the season with a, 1-1 tie against Sonoma State before falling to Humboldt State, 0-1. Lily Dubuc has scored the Penguins only goal of the season. Goalkeeper Alyssa Ramos leads Dominican with nine saves through 24 shots faced.
 
SCOUTING COLORADO MESA
The Colorado Mesa Mavericks are 2-0 so far on the season with wins over Texas-Permian Basin and Angelo State University. Alexis Allard is pacing the Mavericks with two goals and one assists while Mackenzie King leads Colorado Mesa with two assists. Janelle Buccola-Richmond and Kamrie Gunderson both have one win apiece in goal with Buccola-Richmond tallying seven saves and Gunderson collecting a team-leading 10 saves.
 
SCOUTING WESTERN STATE
The Western State Mountaineers have begun the season 0-2 with losses to Concordia University, St. Paul and Newman University. Casey Ober leads the Mountaineers with two shots on the season. Emilie Eckhart leads Western State with 13 saves on the year.