JACKSONVILLE - UC Riverside began its second East Coast road trip in as many years on Friday evening with a 4-1 loss to Jacksonville at Southern Oaks Stadium.

UC Riverside started the road swing with a disruptive midfield presence looking to go ahead first, and that's just what happened. UCR capitalized on a takeaway in the midfield before playing it back, resetting and going down the flanks to find Florida native Brendan Clark in front for the opening goal in the seventh minute.

Clark's first goal of the season from Leopoldo Hernandez and Noah Lopez was the Highlanders' earliest goal in a game since Roberto Garcia-Vargas opened the scoring against San Francisco last season in the fifth minute. It was also UCR's quickest strike away from the Inland Empire since 2018, as well as Hernandez's third assist in his last two appearances. 

The lead would not last long though, as Jacksonville leveled the match in the 25th minute on a set piece inswinger from the attacking midfield. 

UC Riverside's back line came up big in the later stages of the first half, withstanding pressure from the Dolphins and getting the ball into the midfield after being awarded a free kick in the 39th minute. Clark soon after had a second shot blocked while eyeing a 2-1 lead. 

The defense was continually tested out of the break with an early Jacksonville free kick that sailed over the crossbar. Clark played a short free kick at midfield a few minutes later, and UCR managed to work the ball down the field and force a corner that took a deflection before Jacksonville cleared it. 

UC Riverside suddenly found themselves down a man after a second yellow was shown to Alfonso Ramirez in the 53rd minute before the Dolphins jumped on the opportunity with two goals in the next five minutes.

The Highlanders won a corner kick in the 65th minute that batted around the box before Jacksonville cleared it, but UCR's attacking front kept it in long enough to earn a free kick just outside the 18. Issa Badawiya's shot in the 66th minute was stopped head on before the Dolphins put a fourth goal on the board. 

Oscar Penate saw an opportunity in the 77th minute that was blocked over the bar, his first attempt of the year in his second appearance, before Josue Varela logged a shot of his own in the 82nd. Freymar Omarsson returned from injury and made his season debut on Friday, playing the entire second half. 

UC Riverside will finish out the road trip on Labor Day with a 12:00 p.m. kickoff at Central Florida. Live stats can be found on the men's soccer schedule at GoHighlanders.com.