LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC Riverside returned to the pitch for its fifth match in 17 days, as Noah Lopez's goal in the 25th minute was the difference in a 1-0 win on Wednesday at Triton Soccer Stadium. 

The Highlanders remain unbeaten when Lopez finds the back of the net after a second consecutive 1-0 Big West win. At a crucial point in the season, it took all 11 guys on the pitch to record the clean sheet and move UCR to 2-1 in conference play. 

"It's a team effort to win on the road and get a shutout," head coach Tim Cupello said. "The second half was not easy. We showed a lot of character to dig in and close out the game. I'm very proud of our team's performance tonight."

UCR's defense cleared a ball out of the box in the eighth minute and it fell to Oscar Penate, who took it himself into the final third for the Highlanders' first shot of the night from just outside the 18. Penate saw an opening on the near post, but a save prevented the senior's sixth career goal and first of the year. 

The Highlander back line was once again in the clutch midway through the first half, closing down a Triton attacker in the box while being careful not to concede a penalty, but conceding a free kick instead. Leopoldo Hernandez sat on the doorstep in the 19th minute waiting for his first goal of the year, but his one-timer just missed the near post. 

Brendan Clark's outstanding work to the left of Carlos Gonzalez translated to his first assist of the season in the 25th minute, as Clark weaved between two defenders and found Lopez on the doorstep. The sophomore then wheeled around before knocking it off the goalkeeper's boot and in for the 1-0 lead and his second goal against the Tritons in as many meetings. 

The sequence began with Hernandez evading a defender in the midfield before giving the ball off to Clark. 

UC San Diego applied urgent pressure in the last 10 minutes of the half, but stellar play from Gonzalez was able to push UCR over the line with a 1-0 lead at the break. On the other end of the pitch, four of the five Highlander shots through the first 45 minutes landed on frame, as Carlos Osorio logged his first of the year. 

UC Riverside's midfield and back line was put on their heels after the break with the Tritons rolling over its urgency including forcing Gonzalez to protect his near post in the 61st minute despite UC San Diego being called offside. 

UCR fought off immense pressure all throughout the final 45 minutes, particularly frequent inswingers into the 18 from Gonzalez's right. 

The Highlanders finally retained possession with just under 18 minutes on the clock, enough to boot the ball downfield and briefly delay the oncoming attack. Gonzalez was called upon once more in the 78th minute, diving to his right to protect his near post and the lead after a shot from the top of the 18. 

Osorio played a ball over the top into the 18 for a late insurance goal, but a mishit prevented the 2-0 lead in the 86th minute. 

The Highlanders have a quick turnaround with a 7:00 p.m. Friday night match at Cal Poly on ESPN+.