Box Score Fullerton, CA—The UC Riverside Women's Soccer Team came into Thursday's Big West Conference semifinal match against #1 Long Beach State with hopes of winning its first ever conference championship, but leading scorer Tyler Cunningham picked up her second yellow card with eight seconds remaining in regulation, and the 49ers, playing a man up, netted the golden goal with 3:54 gone in the first overtime period to win, 1-0.

LBSU takes on the winner of this evening's #2 UC Santa Barbara vs. #3 Cal State Fullerton match in Sunday's Championship beginning at 1 pm PT.

The Highlanders controlled the ball for most of the match, but the 49ers counter attacks gave them multiple scoring opportunities as well. Neither team was able to score, however, and the clock was counting down to zero to close out regulation.

The ball was headed out of bounds near the 49ers bench as Cunningham and Long Beach State's Mimi Akogi gave chase. Cunningham tried to shield Akogi from the ball, but got to her spot late, and tripped Akogi in the process. The center official immediately blew his whistle, producing Cunningham's second yellow card of the match with eight second left on the clock.

Playing a man up in extra time, Long Beach applied the pressure on offense immediately, and finally broke through in the 94th minute. That is when Jessica Vincent and Ashley Gonzales executed a give-and-go to the right of the Highlanders' defensive 18, and crossed the ball through the box. Fatmata Kamara came sliding towards the mouth of the goal, pushing the ball past a diving Elizabeth Silas.

Despite the loss, UC Riverside has quite a bit to be proud of having recorded the second most wins in the history of the program, and tying the program record for most conference wins. The Highlanders also posted their lowest RPI in a decade.