RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The UC Riverside men's soccer program has announced its schedule for the 2021 season, ushering in head coach Tim Cupello's 11^th year in the Inland Empire. Click here for the full 2021 schedule.

Now entering their 20^th season as a member of the Big West Conference, the Highlanders will test themselves against a fall schedule that includes three first-time matchups, a 2021 NCAA Tournament participant and a cross-country road trip to start the season.
 
"We are thrilled to be back on the field and competing on the national stage for a championship," Cupello said. "Only two Big West seasons ago, we were lifting the Conference trophy and heading to the NCAA tournament. It's a new season, but the goal doesn't change."
 
UCR kicks off the 2021 slate on August 26 at Niagara before capping off its New York road trip against Canisius on August 29. The Highlanders are facing both east coast schools for the first time in program history.
 
The season-opening road trip finishes at San Diego on September 3. The match with the Toreros is the first of three matchups against the West Coast Conference that includes a September 12 home date with NCAA Tournament participant Loyola Marymount. 
 
The Highlanders open at UCR Soccer Stadium on September 9 with the Crosstown Showdown against California Baptist and close the non-conference slate on September 25 with a Pac-12 battle at UCLA.

"We are giving ourselves two pathways to earn an NCAA bid with a great balance in out-of-region opponents and home/away games," Cupello said. 
 
Five of UC Riverside's nine Big West contests will take place at UCR Soccer Stadium this fall. The Highlanders will entertain Sacramento State, CSUN, Cal Poly and Big West newcomers CSU Bakersfield and UC San Diego in Riverside, with the October 30 matchup against the Tritons rounding out the regular season.