Jackson D'Alessandro
Yael Calderón
3
Cal St. Fullerton CSF (6-4-5, 2-1-2)
3
UC Riverside UCR (3-5-4, 1-1-3)
Cal St. Fullerton CSF
(6-4-5, 2-1-2)
3
Final
3
UC Riverside UCR
(3-5-4, 1-1-3)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Cal St. Fullerton CSF 2 1 3
UC Riverside UCR 2 1 3

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Highlanders Battle Back for Point in Wild Draw with Fullerton

UCR nets three in back-and-forth battle with Titans

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – UC Riverside's heavyweight bout with Cal State Fullerton lived up the billing on a midly foggy night, ending in a 3-3 draw in front of a second consecutive sellout crowd at the UCR Soccer Stadium.  

HOW IT HAPPENED 

  • UCR kicked off knowing it was punching above its weight once again, and Luka Lukic delivered early. Fittingly, on International Night, the Serbian connected on a header from Oscar Emilio Trujillo Lizarraga in the fifth minute and drove it into the top corner for the early 1-0 lead.  
  • The Highlanders continued to clear the starting line with gusto, holding the majority of possession through the first 20 minutes. 
  • Fullerton saw one of its first glimpses of hope in the 23rd minute down the right flank before being whistled for offside.  
  • Carlos Gonzalez made a pair of tremendous saves as the 30-minute mark approached, and Jackson D'Alessandro bagged his second of the season and second straight goal contribution minutes later.  
  • D'Alessandro, who was named to the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week, beat a defender on the far side and slid one into the back post to double UCR's lead in the 32nd minute.  
  • Momentum went to Fullerton as halftime approached, though, with a pair of Titan goals in the final five minutes before the intermission.  
  • Lukas Juodkunaitis won a free kick in the 59th minute and Christian Ceja took the attempt, aiming for Noah Lopez at the back post who fired it just off target.  
  • Roles reversed three minutes later when Juodkunaitis conceded a free kick to Fullerton, who made UCR pay with a curler into the top bin for a 3-2 lead.  
  • Lopez and Juodunaitis got the last laugh though, connecting on an equalizer in the 69th minute off the boot of Lopez.  

NOTABLES 

  • UCR is now unbeaten in seven of its last nine matches overall. 
  • Thursday marked the fourth straight draw between the two sides and the Highlanders' first three-goal performance in conference play since a 3-0 win at UC Davis last season.  
  • Lopez moved into fourth all-time with his 15th career goal. 

UP NEXT 

  • UCR returns to action with its penultimate home game on Saturday, October 19 with a 7:00 p.m. kickoff against UC Davis on ESPN+. Tickets are available now at highlanderstickets.universitytickets.com.