RIVERSIDE, Calif. - A second half comeback from UC Riverside fell short on Sunday, as the Highlanders dropped a 3-2 Sunday night matchup to Loyola Marymount at UC Riverside Soccer Stadium.

Sunday's matchup between the two regional sides was not without its physicality, featuring 21 fouls and five yellow cards.

Issa Badawiya wasted no time putting the home side on the front foot with his third goal of the season. The forward, who found the equalizer in the 89th minute of last week's Crosstown Showdown, opened the scoring against LMU in the 15th minute. Badawiya found an opening in the lower third of the goal on the right side with an assist from Roberto Garcia. 

He has now recorded a goal or assist in four of UC Riverside's five games this season, scoring in his last three games. Badawiya's opener was UC Riverside's earliest goal in a game since the Highlanders scored four minutes into the 2019 season opener. 

The forward laid claim to three of UCR's four first half shots, with Brendan Clark being the other. Clark sent a shot high over the net in the 22nd minute. 

LMU would counter with two goals in a four-minute span to take a 2-1 lead into the half. A third goal from the Lions in the second half stretched the lead, but UCR punched back with Oscar Penate's first goal as a Highlander in the 70th minute. 

Josue Varela made his collegiate debut on Sunday with 25 minutes in the midfield. Carlos Gonzalez made three stops for the Highlanders in net. 

Badawiya ended the night leading the Highlanders with four of UCR's 12 shots, including two of the team's six on goal. Collectively, UC Riverside continued its streak of posting at least 10 shots in every game this season. 

UC Riverside is back on the pitch on Friday, September 17 to host Dixie State at 7:00 p.m. Live stats for the match will be available at gohighlanders.com.