SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - 14 days removed from a 1-1 draw with Cal Poly in Riverside, UCR faced off with the Mustangs on Wednesday night in both sides' first Big West Tournament meeting, as the Highlanders came away with the 1-0 win at Alex G. Spanos Stadium in San Luis Obispo.

UC Riverside's defense was tested in the seventh minute with Cal Poly streaking down the right wing but missing the close-range header. Otherwise, an overbearing midfield attack and stout defense allowed UC Riverside control the pace for much of the game. 

The Highlanders responded to Cal Poly's missed chance with a free kick from Herminio Padilla past the box that was swung back into the box and sent out. The ensuing corner found Freymar Omarsson's head perfectly, but the Iceland native's header was met straight on by Cal Poly's goalkeeper. 

UCR regrouped in the midfield and the ball eventually found Agustin Guerrero's left foot minutes later, but the junior would not find the back of the net. Leopoldo Hernandez almost made it two goals against Cal Poly in the 27th minute, but his slow roller on net was swallowed up off the line. 

Cal Poly earned its first corner in the 21st minute after pressuring UCR's back line, but Carlos Gonzalez snagged the set piece out of the air. UCR's experienced back line was forced onto its heels once again in the 25th minute, but was able to clear the ball out of the front of the goal to keep things scoreless. 

The Mustangs threatened again with a mismatch in the attacking third, but Gonzalez once again leapt for the diving grab on the far post. UCR countered on the next possession, playing the ball into the attacking third and into the feet of Leopoldo Hernandez in the 29th minute. The senior made the extra pass to Roberto Garcia-Vargas, but the close-range shot was deflected over the cross bar. 

UCR's continued high-level ball movement in the midfield allowed for a 5-1 shot advantage through the first 35 minutes, including both of the game's shots on goal.

Both sides traded near goals just before halftime. Minutes after subbing on, Issa Badawiya picked up a bad pass from Cal Poly in the 43rd minute and made a defender miss before throwing a shot on net that deflected off the goalkeeper's right foot. Soon after, UC Riverside caught a break of their own seconds later with a missed penalty from Cal Poly.  

UCR caught a break in the 53rd minute on a long throw-in from Cal Poly that turned into a close miss on the near post. On the other end of the pitch, Federico Ucar streaked down the right side in the 54th minute and was taken down in the box to draw the game's second penalty kick. 

Leopoldo Hernandez had his penalty blocked, but converted the rebound to put UCR up 1-0. It was the senior's second spot conversion of the season and his second goal against the Mustangs in 2021. 

A costly foul from UC Riverside set up a free kick that Cal Poly swung into the 18 in the 62nd minute. A scramble in front of goal ultimately saw the ball sail over the crossbar to keep UCR's lead intact. 

UCR's back line again dispossessed Cal Poly in the 69th minute in the 18-yard box after the Mustangs worked the ball into good position. Ucar almost gave the Highlanders a cushion in the 75th minute off a restart, but Cal Poly's goalkeeper beat him to the ball on the edge of the box. 

Freymar Omarsson was taken down at the top of the box and drew a yellow card, but Brendan Clark's free kick at the top of the box missed high. UCR continued to press from the midfield and wind the clock down, but each attacking threat was met by a Cal Poly attack desperate for an opening or a clean hit of the ball, but no such luck fell for the hosts. 

The win advances UC Riverside to its third Big West Tournament Semifinals in the last four seasons, when the Highlanders travel to two-seed UC Irvine on Saturday night for a spot in the championship game. Saturday's semifinal will be broadcast on ESPN+.