SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - UC Riverside started strong, but dropped a 3-2 decision to UC Santa Barbara in Wednesday's Big West First Round matchup at Harder Stadium. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• UC Riverside won two prime scoring opportunities in the first 15 minutes in the form of free kicks, but both attempts went into the wall. 
• Persistence paid off for UCR's attacking front though, as Noah Lopez brought a ball down in the attacking midfield from Jackson D'Alessandro and wove through a sea of Gaucho defenders to give UCR the 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute. 
• Carlos Gonzalez was on his line and ready for a key UC Santa Barbara opportunity in the 36th minute, taking away a potential equalizer after shifting post to post. Gonzalez booted a ball down field just seconds into the second half before Luka Lukic advanced it up to a waiting Armando Ibarra Jr. Ibarra chipped the Gaucho goalkeeper for the 2-0 lead. 
• UC Santa Barbara erased the clean sheet in the 54th minute, but Gonzalez redeemed himself by covering the near post for the save in the 59th minute. 
• UCR's back line stood tall in the 62nd minute, breaking up a pair of Santa Barbara chances in the box. UC Santa Barbara later equalized from the spot in the 78th minute. 
• Both sides brought the ball the length of the pitch in an exciting final five minutes of action. Luka Lukic went down the field after a pair of unsuccessful Gaucho chances, but UC Santa Barbara went ahead 3-2 in the 86th minute. 

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

• Noah Lopez finished his junior season with the team lead in scoring, grabbing his fourth goal of the year on D'Alessandro's first collegiate assist and point. 
• UC Riverside received its sixth goal and fourth assist from a substitute this season on Ibarra's goal and Lukic's assist. 

UP NEXT

• UCR has closed out its 2023 season.