RIVERSIDE, Calif. - UC Riverside played the second of three games in seven days on Friday night at UC Riverside Soccer Stadium with a 3-2 win over Dixie State.
The result saw a two-game skid snapped and a return to offensive ways for the Highlanders.
"I'm thrilled for the team to get back on track with a win," head coach Tim Cupello said. "I have 100% belief that we will continue to get better. And it's always better to improve while winning games."
Brendan Clark scored UCR's second goal within the 15-minute mark in as many games, opening the scoring against the Trailblazers in the fourth minute. The Stetson transfer took a pass from Herminio Padilla and found the back of the net from the top right corner of the box for his first goal as a Highlander.
Clark accounted for all three of UCR's shots in the first 15 minutes to help the Highlanders return to their attacking ways.
The offense only went up from there with a 6-1 shot advantage for UC Riverside through 24 minutes. After 45 minutes of action, three shots apiece from Clark and Roberto Garcia-Vargas helped UCR make it four games this season with at least nine shots in the first half.
Jonick Pineda scored his second goal of the season in the 62nd minute, finding the top shelf unassisted from the top of the box to put the Highlanders up 2-0.
A goal from both sides in the next two minutes saw a 2-0 lead turn into 3-1. After Dixie State erased their zero from the scoreboard, Leopoldo Hernandez converted from the spot in the 66th minute to give UCR its two-goal advantage back.
Hernandez finished the night with a goal and an assist.
"Leopoldo is a tremendous player," Cupello said. "He's great going forward and he is equally as good defensively. I'm happy for him earning a goal and assist tonight."
UC Riverside put up its second game of the season with 20 shots led by six from Roberto Garcia-Vargas, the most by a Highlander in a game this season. UCR's 22 on the night were the second-most for the team in a single match this season.
Oscar Penate and Carlos Zuniga made their first starts of the season for UCR, with Zuniga seeing the starting XI for the first time in his college career.
UC Riverside concludes its longest homestand of the season on Sunday evening with a 7:00 p.m. kickoff against San Francisco. Live stats will be available at gohighlanders.com.
