RIVERSIDE, Calif. - UC Riverside claimed its second Big West postseason title on Saturday night at another packed UC Riverside Soccer Stadium, as the No. 1 seed Highlanders downed UC Santa Barbara 1-0 for the Big West's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. 

UCR experienced a slow start to 2022 just like the 2018 season, but persistence and determination led the program to the top of the mountain four years later. 

"We brought in 14 new guys and that success takes time," Highlanders head coach and Big West Coach of the Year Tim Cupello said. These guys could've easily thrown in the towel after the first few weeks when the losses were coming, but they stuck with and believed in the process. We kept chopping wood and carrying water and believing what's the next step and what are the lessons we could learn. " 

A slow start between UC Riverside and UC Santa Barbara heated up midway through with traded fouls shots from the Gauchos that Carlos Gonzalez was ready for on his line. Gonzalez made four saves at the intermission. 

A Gaucho yellow card resulted in a UCR free kick from just inside the center line that Brendan Clark whipped into a waiting Luka Lukic, who had subbed on just nine minutes earlier. Lukic headed the inswinger into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead just before halftime. 

Big West All-First Team selection and Co-Goalkeeper of the Year Carlos Gonzalez was named the Most Valuable Player and recorded four saves on the night, all coming in a four-minute span near the end of the first half. 

The Highlanders now await their NCAA Tournament opponent on Monday's 10:00 a.m. selection show on NCAA.com.