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Women's Flag football first win team photo
6
University of Redlands UNIVERSI
36
Winner La Sierra LA_SIERR
University of Redlands UNIVERSI
6
Final
36
La Sierra LA_SIERR
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
UNIVERSI University of Redlands 0 0 0 6 6
LA_SIERR La Sierra 6 12 12 6 36

Game Recap: Women's Flag Football |

Women’s Flag Football Earns First Win in Inaugural Season

RIVERSIDE - La Sierra University women's flag football team competed in their home opener in their inaugural season against the University of Redlands. The Golden Eagles walked away with their first victory making their mark in the history books.

Behind a five-touchdown performance from dual-threat quarterback Ariana Rivera, La Sierra controlled every quarter and pulled away for a 36-6 flag football win over the University of Redlands on Jan. 28. The Golden Eagles scored on their opening drive, built an 18-0 cushion before halftime and never allowed Redlands to get within striking distance in a complete performance on both sides of the ball.

Rivera set the tone early, capping La Sierra's first scoring drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Matea Verdugo with 5:35 left in the first quarter for a 6-0 lead. The Golden Eagles' offense stayed in rhythm in the second quarter, when Rivera broke loose for an 11-yard rushing touchdown at the 8:26 mark, then pushed the margin to three scores on a backbreaking deep strike. With 4:34 remaining in the half, Rivera hit Danielle Gomez on a 52-yard touchdown pass to extend the advantage to 18-0 and highlight the team's big-play capability.

La Sierra appeared poised to take a shutout into the break before Redlands finally answered at the horn with a 13-yard touchdown as time expired in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to 18-6. It was one of the Bulldogs' few breakthroughs against a La Sierra defense that limited chunk plays and held Redlands to 23 rushing yards on 10 attempts.

Any momentum Redlands generated before halftime was quickly erased in the third quarter. Rivera and Gomez reconnected at the 6:35 mark, this time on a 29-yard touchdown that pushed the lead to 24-6. Two minutes later, Rivera finished another drive on the ground with a 4-yard scoring run to make it 30-6. Rivera finished 20 of 33 passing for 215 yards and three touchdowns while adding six carries for 30 yards and two rushing scores, efficiently directing an offense that averaged 6.3 yards per play and converted 12 first downs.

"It felt amazing scoring my first two official touchdowns especially knowing my little siblings were on the sideline watching. My teammates' support and cheers made it unforgettable. I'm even more excited to build off it and help the team keep getting better as the year goes on," Gomez describes after her first official game on the field.

La Sierra continued to mix the pass and run in the fourth quarter, and running back/receiver Hayley Medina delivered the final offensive blow with 9:53 to play. Medina punched in a 10-yard rushing touchdown to stretch the margin to 36-6, capping a night in which she totaled 16 rushing yards on three carries and added four receptions for 34 yards. Gomez made the most of her touches, finishing with two catches for 81 yards and two scores, including the 52-yard first-half dagger that helped La Sierra seize control.

Defensively, the Golden Eagles rarely broke, forcing Redlands into long fields and limiting explosive gains. La Sierra held the Bulldogs to 190 total yards on 61 plays and came up with an interception to blunt one of Redlands' drives. Redlands relied heavily on Smith, who completed 20 of 51 passes for 167 yards and one touchdown while also rushing eight times for 24 yards, but the Bulldogs managed only 10 first downs. Immoos was Smith's top target, finishing with eight receptions for 52 yards and the team's lone score, as well as an interception on defense.

La Sierra closed the night with 303 total yards, including 215 through the air and 88 on the ground, and scored in every quarter while punting only twice. The balanced attack and steady defensive pressure allowed the Golden Eagles to maintain control from the opening drive, reinforcing the team's momentum as it continues through the flag football season.

The Golden Eagles are next set to host MiraCosta College on Wednesday, February 11 at 6:00 p.m.
 
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