BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – UC Riverside dropped the 2024 road finale, 4-1, at Cal State Bakersfield at Main Soccer Field.  

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Saturday's road contest began with a fast start for UCR at both ends of the pitch. Carlos Gonzalez was called into action for the first time with a routine save in the 12th minute.  
• Bakersfield turned the tide in the 18th with the opener from close range and doubled the lead in the 37th minute.  
• UC Riverside successfully turned away a pair of Roadrunner corner kicks from opposite sides of the endline in the 23rd and 24th minutes.  
• The Highlanders won a free kick in the 28th minute and Lukas Juodkunaitis curled an inswinger towards AJ Meade-Tatum, whose header was saved on the doorstep.  
• Christian Ceja fired a dangerous free kick directly on target in the 40th minute shortly after Bakersfield found a third.  
• UCR's back line limited the damage early in the second half with the denial of a close-range chance. Brady Elliott booted the ball away a few minutes later as Bakersfield continued to apply pressure.  
• Edward Castro pulled one back from the spot in the 65th minute and UCR threatened a few minutes later with a corner that was flicked over the crossbar. UCR sustained a chunk of possession thereafter before Bakersfield scored a fourth in the 73rd minute.  

NOTABLES 

• Andrew Hermosillo made his collegiate debut in the 78th minute and passed his first test after saving a free kick at the near post.  
• Castro slotted home his second goal of the season to erase the clean sheet.  
• Ceja made his 50th career start in the road finale.  

UP NEXT 

• The Highlanders wrap up the regular season on Saturday, November 2 with a 7:00 p.m. kickoff against UC Santa Barbara. Tickets are available now at highlanderstickets.universitytickets.com.