Nugget in the Rough: Quaresma scores first collegiate goal

Katelyn Quaresma

 

By Michael Bower
Online Forty-Niner
Sports Editor

Freshman Katelyn Quaresma of the women's soccer team scored her first collegiate goal in a 3-1 win against UC Irvine on Friday at George Allen Field, making her this week's Nugget in the Rough.

It was the first win for the soccer team against UC Irvine in Big West Conference play and their first win against UC Irvine in seven years.

Quaresma scored the second goal of the game to put the 49ers on top 2-0. Senior Allison Wiegand recovered a rebound, and passed to Quaresma who fired the ball past UC Irvine goalkeeper Melissa Welliver from 10-yards out.

Quaresma and the 49ers went into Friday's game winless in the Big West, and with just two games remaining in the season Quaresma wanted to win one for the seniors.

"It feels good to win," she said after the game. "Our goal was to win it for the seniors, to give them something to remember. This is a start."

Quaresma started the year expecting to be a redshirt freshman, but she earned her spot on the travel squad after impressing Head Coach Mauricio Ingrassia in practice. She made her first appearance against the University of San Diego, and she got her first start against Creighton in the Blue Jay Classic, which the team won.

Quaresma was a two-year letterman in soccer and basketball at Sierra High School. She was named the leagues Most Valuable Player as a senior after scoring 40 goals.

The soccer team will conclude its season this weekend with two games at George Allen Field. The team will play Friday against Cal State Fullerton at 3 p.m. and Sunday against UC Riverside at 2 p.m.