RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Four days after conceding twice in the final 10 minutes to settle for a draw, UC Riverside flipped the script on the opposition with a dramatic 82nd-minute equalizer from Charisma Benitez to draw 1-1 with LMU on Thursday at the UC Riverside Soccer Stadium
UCR is now unbeaten in four of its last five matches overall and remains unbeaten on the year when scoring in the final 15 minutes of action.
LMU wasted no time getting on the board with the go-ahead goal in the second minute off a set piece. UCR's back line then watched a ball roll across the ball untouched in the 20th minute that nearly doubled the Lions' lead.
Short passing in the midfield turned into a lob to Kameron Henry down the right side in the fourth minute before a long UCR throw went over the end line. Henry was almost on the receiving end of another good ball in the 11th minute and got a shot off in the 21st, trying to find the near post as the redshirt junior found one of UCR's few early chances.
Henry played the ball into the 18 in the 30th minute and tried slotting it to Leyna Wood across the box, but the two could not connect ahead of the Highlanders' second corner kick that would turn into a more composed and controlled UC Riverside attack.
Where Henry went, UC Riverside's offense went. She found Alex Hargrave this time on a corner kick in the 38th minute, but the reigning Big West Offensive Player of the Week couldn't put a head or foot on it.
Shots were few and far between for both sides through the first 45 minutes, with five between both UC Riverside and the Lions. Henry's chance at the near post midway through the first half though was UCR's lone attempt before the break.
The Highlanders came out of halftime with more urgency, switching up the offense and jumping right at LMU's back line off the opening kick.
UC Riverside's attacking corps made LMU sweat 15 minutes into the second half with a high press, keeping the pressure on the Lions until an easy header ended the offensive opportunity. Benitez tried to go top shelf with the chip in the 74th minute, but put it just over the bar for her first shot of the season in her third appearance of 2022.
UC Riverside continually knocked on the door in the final 15 minutes of action and eventually found its reward. Benitez, who made her season debut last Thursday at California Baptist, equalized on a set piece from Hargrave for her first career score.
UCR now moves onto Big West action starting on Sunday, September 18 with a 6:00 p.m. kickoff at Long Beach State. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+ with live stats available on the women's soccer schedule at GoHighlanders.com.
