RIVERSIDE, Calif. - UC Riverside opened the 2023 season on Thursday night at the UC Riverside Soccer Stadium with a 4-1 defeat to California Baptist in the Crosstown Showdown. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Charisma Benitez provided the first offensive threat for UCR with a shot on net in the 11th minute. Benitez went to ground in the final third while UC Riverside's attacking front worked to keep the ball in for Benitez, who fired her first of two shots in two minutes. 

• UC Riverside favored the left flank off the opening whistle, continually finding Daphane Mendez for the majority of its scoring chances. Mendez wove around several CBU midfielders and found Sarah Mahfoud in the 22nd minute for the opening goal. 

• California Baptist equalized just before halftime on a scramble in front of the net before scoring three second-half goals.

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

• Three true freshmen from 2022 - Spenser Gonzalez, Emma Gonzalez and Marieke ten Brink - were all named to Nat Gonzalez's starting XI for the season opener. 

• Eight Highlanders made their UCR debuts in the Crosstown Showdown.

• Sarah Mahfoud's opening goal was unofficially her second in a Highlander uniform - the CSU San Bernardino transfer also scored in last weekend's exhibition at San Diego State. 

• Giselle Uribe and Jazmine Mendez returned to action after missing all of last season, logging 77 and 65 minutes, respectively, in Thursday's Crosstown Showdown. 

UP NEXT

• UC Riverside will play four of its next five matches away from Riverside, starting on Sunday in a 1:00 p.m. matinee against San Diego from Torero Stadium. Watch and live stat links can be found on the 2023 UC Riverside women's soccer schedule at GoHighlanders.com.