Riverside—The UC Riverside Men's Soccer Team battled CSUN in a defensive slugfest Wednesday evening, with the Matadors scoring in the 76th minute to pick up the 1-0 victory.
That decision, coupled with Cal State Fullerton's victory over UC Irvine, caused the Big West South Division race to tighten up considerably. With three matches remaining in the regular season, just three points separate UCR, CSUN and Cal State Fullerton got the top spot in the division.
Big West
Men's Soccer Standings |
| SOUTH DIVISION |
| UC Riverside |
4 |
2 |
1 |
13 |
| CSUN |
3 |
2 |
2 |
11 |
| Cal State Fullerton |
3 |
3 |
1 |
10 |
| UC Irvine |
2 |
4 |
0 |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
The Highlanders and Matadors combined for 18 shots Thursday, which is the second lowest total in a UC Riverside match this season, as both teams locked down defensively.
CSUN broke through with 14:18 to go in the match when Stuart close slotted the ball to Jere Degraffenreidt streaking down the middle of the field. Degraffenreidt got between the defense and Highlanders goalkeeper Vincent Morales, forcing Morales to come outside UC Riverside's defensive 18. Degraffenreigt chipped the ball over Morales's head, and drained the open-netter for the lone score of the evening.
UC Riverside hosts Cal State Fullerton on Saturday, October 22 at 7 pm PT for the final regular season home match of the year for the Highlanders. UCR will celebrate the careers of their seniors that night as part of pregame festivities at the UC Riverside Soccer Stadium.
