RIVERSIDE, Calif. - A fierce second-half comeback was not enough on Sunday as UC Riverside fell 2-1 to Cal State Fullerton in the season finale at UC Riverside Soccer Stadium.

Caela Kaio came up big to prevent an early goal in the fourth minute, being in position to deny the Titans the early lead. 

UC Riverside won a corner kick in the 19th minute after a shot from Alex Hargrave was blocked over the end line, but the corner would not turn into breaking the scoreless deadlock. 

UCR's defense continued to hold as Kaio made two more saves in the first half. Lindsey Turner, Alex Vera and Daphane Mendez accounted for the Highlanders' other attempts for the half. 

Cal State Fullerton broke the deadlock in the 41st minute, beating Kaio in the top right corner of the goal. Akari Shimizu almost leveled the match seconds before the intermission, but had her shot from the top of the box blocked.

Fullerton padded three minutes out of halftime with a shot through the middle of the goal from the top of the six-yard box. 

Alyssa Carranza logged UCR's first shot on target of the day in the 57th minute, aiming for the center of the goal. 

The Highlanders followed that up with a relentless effort in attacking third. 

Back-to-back shots from Daphane Mendez and Aaliyah Tu'ua in the 63rd minute kept the pressure on Fullerton's back line, but the Titans were able to clear the ball out of danger. Katie Wong had a go in the 70th minute that was also turned away. 

Leigh Polson pulled one back for UC Riverside in the 84th minute, finding the top shelf to get UCR within a goal in her final collegiate game. Shimizu almost put the game level a minute later. 

Kaio booted her goal kick up the pitch in the final minute of play in a last-ditch effort for an equalizer, but UC Riverside wouldn't put one home. 

In all, a nine-shot effort in the latter 45 minutes helped the Highlanders eclipse 10 shots in a match for the seventh time this season, including the sixth time in their last eight matches. With a 14-11 advantage in the afternoon, UCR also outshot its opponent for the third time in its last four games and sixth time this year. 

With Sunday's result, UC Riverside concludes its 2021 season at 4-11-2.