RIVERSIDE, Calif. - UC Riverside played its second to last home game of the 2021 regular season on Wednesday with a 1-1 draw against Cal Poly at UC Riverside Soccer Stadium.
UCR is now unbeaten in four of its last five matches with Cal Poly.
Leopoldo Hernandez wasted no time getting the home side on the board, as the senior found the bottom right of the goal in the 12th minute on an assist from Oscar Penate.
It was UCR's fifth goal this season within 15 minutes of the opening whistle, Hernandez's third score of the year and Penate's fifth game in his last six with a goal or assist.
The early lead would not last, though, after Cal Poly leveled the match three minutes later.
Penate almost gave UCR the lead back in the 27th minute, but had his shot from the left side of the 18-yard box blocked. Brendan Clark also had a go just before the halftime whistle, but missed high and to the left from his spot about 30 yards out.
Augustin Guerrero made his first start of the season and first appearance since October 9. The junior transfer logged a season-high 87 minutes and two shots on target, including a 48th-minute attempt to the top left corner that was deflected out for a corner kick.
Defense from both sides took precipice in the second half with one shot apiece through the opening 10 minutes until the crossbar came to the Highlanders' aid in the 56th minute to turn away a Cal Poly attempt.
Issa Badawiya entered the match in the 56th minute and provided a spark up top for UC Riverside. After subbing on for Penate, Badawiya 10 minutes later laid claim to two of three Highlander shots in a span of three minutes that forced two saves from the Cal Poly goalkeeper and kept the Mustangs' back line on its heels.
The Highlanders continued to play safely in protecting their offensive assets, subbing Badawiya out in the 77th minute and swapping playmaker for playmaker with the re-entrance of Penate back up top for Roberto Garcia-Vargas.
UC Riverside continued to make the most of its opportunities in the second half and laid the pressure on even more with time winding down.
UCR logged nine of its 13 shots and five of six on frame in the latter 45 minutes of regular time, with four shots coming in the final 10 minutes of play. Adolfo Magana logged his season-high third shot of the night in the 87th minute but missed the near post before extra time awaited UCR for the second consecutive contest.
Oscar Penate let one rip from the top left corner of the box in the 98th minute, becoming the fifth Highlander with a multi-shot night. Penate's shot gave UCR its fourth 15-shot outing of the season and first since September 17.
UCR continued to manufacture scoring chances in its second consecutive overtime period. The Highlanders created two shots and two corner kicks across both extra times while holding Cal Poly to just one shot in the additional 20 minutes.
UC Riverside has a quick turnaround and will play its final game away from the Inland Empire this weekend, traveling to UC Santa Barbara for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, October 23. Live stats and a live stream from Santa Barbara will be available on ucsbgauchos.com.
