RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Westley Hastings notched his first UC Riverside goal as the lone strike in UCR's 1-0 win over UC Davis on Saturday night at the UC Riverside Soccer Stadium. 

After several weeks of productive play on the pitch with no result, the Highlanders, back home after three away from the Inland Empire, were finally able to grab all three points on the boot of their freshman. 

"It was well-deserved," head coach Tim Cupello said. "We've been playing really well over the past two to three weeks and haven't been able to get the result, so I'm just happy for the guys. Sometimes, our performance has been really good but hasn't turned into a win, so now they feel that reward of the win." 

UC Riverside had a look on net right from the opening kick, as Issa Badawiya played a beautiful through ball to Brendan Clark, who dropped it off to Noah Lopez before the ball rolled over the end line. The trio was electric going forward early, connecting in the sixth minute as well with a misplayed ball in front of the goal. 

UCR's offense collectively pushed higher up the pitch, seeing most of its chances come within the 18 or just outside of it with either Lopez or Badawiya on the receiving end of a ball into the box. Lopez drew the match's first yellow in the 35th minute to set up a set piece just outside the 18 and Badawiya tried to pick out the top corner of the near post for one of UCR's few first-half attempts, but was denied by Davis' keeper. 

UC Riverside's first-half shot tally, though, didn't tell the story of an offense that kept pushing for the opening goal. The trend continued just out of halftime in the 50th minute, as the Highlanders played the ball around the attacking third but could not muster a shot until Hastings put one wide right. 

Carlos Gonzalez was caught in a 1v1 situation, but was able to make the save in the 56th minute to keep things scoreless. The Mater Dei product made another crucial save in the 84th out of midair while being able to stay on his line. 

UC Riverside's midfield corps stepped up with 30 minutes to play, as Leopoldo Hernandez dispossessed an Aggie and played a ball up to Hastings, who took it the rest of the way with a defender beside him before finding the top bin for the opener in the 60th minute. 

The Preseason All-Big West selection earned assist number five on the year on Hastings' first goal as a Highlander. The opener was UCR's first goal by a freshman this season and first since Noah Lopez scored against UC San Diego last year on Senior Night.

UC Davis put more pressure and urgency on the Highlander midfield and back line, but a now-defensive minded Hastings was on the ball in the 88th minute to interrupt the offensive flow before almost recreating his goal seconds later. 

"I'm happy for Wes because he's been working hard all season," Cupello said. "He's young. He's gotten better and better, and all of sudden he's got confidence. He's scoring a lot in training, so what he's putting forth in training is starting to translate into games." 

UC Riverside is right back on the road with a two-game road trip starting on Wednesday, October 5 at UC San Diego.