IRVINE, Calif. - UC Riverside fought to the end in their third Big West semifinal in four years, coming from behind twice for a 2-2 draw and pushing second-seeded UC Irvine to a penalty shootout at home before bowing out of the Big West Championships.
Carlos Gonzalez's poise in net was a constant theme throughout the first 45 minutes and the gift that kept on giving. The freshman didn't have to wait long for his first save of the night, diving to his right to stop the Anteaters from a few yards out in the seventh minute.
UC Riverside's experienced back line was pressed early and often, as the Highlanders stood their ground to deny the Anteaters on numerous occasions. After opening Saturday's semifinal on their heels though, meticulous passing and a steady attack helped the Highlanders build from the back and eventually the midfield as the half progressed.
A push from the back line in the 18th minute went into the attacking half, but a through ball to the near sideline went out of reach and over the touchline.
Jonick Pineda dispossessed a UCI attacker in the 22nd minute and played the ball out as UCR once again built from the back. Again, steady passing moved the ball downfield before Leopoldo Hernandez's long-range shot went wide of the near post.
The Highlanders were on the offensive at this point and would not wait long for another chance. UCR's offense created another threat in the 27th minute before a deflection sailed over the end line for the Highlanders' first corner, but UC Riverside would still not find the back of the net.
Roberto Garcia-Vargas's free kick in the 29th minute was right to the keeper, but seconds later, Hernandez almost found the far post from 20 yards out before watching his attempt roll wide.
UCR's defense was called upon again in the 35th minute, clogging UCI's passing in the six-yard box to keep Saturday's affair scoreless. Gonzalez came up big again just before halftime to UCI twice on a free kick in the 40th minute.
Issa Badawiya took a long ball from the midfield and headed down in front of the 18-yard box in the 54th minute, but was not able to produce a shot. On the other end, Gonzalez redirected an Anteater attempt from outside the 18.
Pineda was a constant foil in UC Irvine's plans all night, but was especially present in the 60th minute. After Gonzalez slid while coming off his line, the senior was sitting on the doorstep to stop a clear UCI shot on goal.
After a half and change of both teams trading jabs, 18 minutes in the second half proved to be the fireworks that Saturday's semifinal was waiting for.
An unfortunate break went against the Highlanders in the 67th minute after UCI took the 1-0 lead on the doorstep, but the lead would not last. Pineda brought down a free kick in the box in the 71st minute, made a move and ripped his fifth goal of the season into the far corner to level the match.
UC Irvine took the momentum away in the 77th minute after reclaiming the lead with a left-footed shot from the top of the box.
Hernandez slipped a ball to Badawiya in the 82nd minute, but the Riverside native sailed it over the crossbar despite making solid contact.
Badawiya was again the intended recipient of a ball destined for the back of the net, but events would dictate different luck for UCR. A ball from the midfield landed on his back in the 86th minute, but fell right to a waiting Garcia-Vargas who rocketed a left boot into the ball and sent it to the back of the net for the 2-2 equalizer and his third goal of the season.
Neither side's last-minutes effort saw the back of the net ahead of the extra period.
Herminio Padilla's free kick went well into the box in the 97th minute, but could not find a teammate to put it home. Hernandez sent a ball into the box two minutes later, but Adolfo Magana's header was just off the mark.
Padilla launched a shot off the crossbar on a Highlander set piece in the second overtime period, and UCI was caught being overzealous on the other end on the attacking front. UC Riverside mustered three shots in the second extra period, but no budging from either side resulted in a penalty shootout.
Penalties would not be the Highlanders' forte on Saturday night though, as the Anteaters bested UCR from the spot. With the result, UC Riverside concludes its season at 9-7-3.
