Badawiya
2
UC Riverside UCR (8-6-2, 3-3-2)
3
Winner UC Santa Barbara UCSB (10-3-4, 6-0-2)
UC Riverside UCR
(8-6-2, 3-3-2)
2
Final
3
UC Santa Barbara UCSB
(10-3-4, 6-0-2)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
UC Riverside UCR 0 2 2
UC Santa Barbara UCSB 1 2 3

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Highlanders Fall in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - UC Riverside took to the road for the final time in the 2021 regular season with a 3-2 loss at UC Santa Barbara on Saturday night. 

The Highlanders outplayed their counterparts for the opening 20 minutes, logging three shots and two of those on target coming off the boots of Carlos Osorio and Brendan Clark. Defensively, Carlos Gonzalez came up big early with an outstretched arm to deny the Gauchos off a set piece in the fourth minute. 

Osorio had his shot blocked in the 10th minute before Federico Ucar's attempt two minutes later went off target. The junior drew a foul in the midfield in the 18th minute and the Highlanders used the set piece opportunity to threaten deep in the attacking third. 

UC Santa Barbara would respond with a header over Gonzalez's shoulder in the 32nd minute to take the 1-0 lead. 

Gonzalez logged three saves in the opening half and denied UC Santa Barbara. a chance to extend the lead in the 38th minute. A Santa Barbara attacker played a low ball across the six-yard box, but the freshman dove to his left with an outstretched left hand to deny the Gauchos. 

UC Riverside's offense came sprinting out of the halftime break with two goals in two minutes. Issa Badawiya was on the end of a scramble in front of goal that found the back of the net in the 48th minute for the equalizer. Two minutes later, Herminio Padilla rocketed a shot past the Gauchos' goalkeeper for the 2-1 lead and his first goal of the season. 

Another scramble, this time in front of Santa Barbara's goal, resulted in the Gauchos bringing the contest level in the 65th minute. 

Dorian Morrison had a chance to pull UCR level in the 83rd minute with a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box, but the forward sent it over the crossbar. Adolfo Magana was the recipient of a cross into the 18 in the 86th minute, but his volley went high over the target. 

UC Riverside will host Senior Night on Saturday, October 30 in a 7:00 p.m. tilt with UC San Diego. Live stats for the regular season finale against the Tritons will be available at gohighlanders.com.