PORTLAND, Ore. - Aleksander Vukovic laid claim to UC Riverside's first NCAA Tournament goal in program history in the 89th minute, but the Highlanders fell 2-1 to Portland at Merlo Field in Thursday night's NCAA Tournament First Round matchup. 

The result, while ending the Highlanders' season, does not take away from the groundwork that this team laid with the Big West regular season and postseason titles. 

Carlos Gonzalez was on his game early, as the Big West Championships MVP and Co-Goalkeeper of the Year was forced to collect two saves in the eighth minute of action, but Portland pushed ahead with the opener in the 17th minute. Gonzalez finished his night with eight stops and his season with 82, passing Charles Alamo for fifth all-time. 

The All-Big West First Team selection also bumped his career save total to 138, also fifth all-time in program history. 

The Highlanders were aggressive after the opening goal with a pair of shots in a four-minute span following, including Issa Badawiya attempting to level the match in the top right corner. 

Badawiya paced the offense with four to his credit at the intermission, half of UCR's total of eight. Luka Lukic logged 12 minutes in the opening half, nearly leveling the match in the 44th minute with a shot right to Portland's keeper. 

The Pilots doubled their lead in the 47th minute before Armando Ibarra kept the pressure on with a shot straight to the keeper. What followed was four shots for the Highlanders from the 65th minute to the 70th, with two coming off the boot of Christian Ceja Paniagua. 

UC Riverside pressed Portland in the final 10 minutes of action in search of a first goal. Luka Lukic curled a ball into Badawiya on the near post, but Badawiya's cross rolled across the box to the opposite sideline. Vukovic pulled one back in the 89th minute, but it was too little too late. 

UCR ends its season at 8-8-4, the second consecutive .500 mark and third since Cupello was named permanent head coach in 2013.