LOS ANGELES, Calif.— Despite scoring the first and last goal of the match, the UC Riverside Men's Soccer Team (0-1) was edged out by host Loyola Marymount (1-0) in the Highlanders' first match of the season.

UCR opened the 2018 season on a high note taking a 1-0 lead over the Lions in just the third minute of the contest. Sophomore forward Roberto Garcia-Vargas gave the Highlanders their first goal of the year sinking a penalty kick to give his team the lead.

LMU would answer with three goals of its own before closing out the first half of play.

The Highlanders trailed 3-1 for most of the 2nd half but never gave up as freshman defender Freymar Omarrson notched his first NCAA score with just 15 seconds remaining in the match to cut the lead 3-2. Freshman forward Daniel Castaneda set up his teammate for the header and gathered an assist on the play.

The offense on each side was balanced as each team took 11 shots throughout the match, but LMU would capitalize on the Highlander end of the field taking seven corner kicks on the night.

 Junior goal keeper Edwyn Gutierrez was a bright spot for the UCR defense pitching a shutout for the remainder of the match after starting the 2nd half.

The Highlanders will remain on the road this weekend as UCR will take on the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos in Harder Stadium this Sunday at 7 PM.