RIVERSIDE, Calif. (September 1, 2024) - UC Riverside (0-3-0, 0-0-0 Big West) dropped a 2-0 decision to Pacific on Sunday night at the UC Riverside Soccer Stadium.  

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• The final match of the opening home stand saw a wire-to-wire fast tempo that started with the first of five shots from Luka Lukic in the 11th minute. Lukic came close to scoring again in the 21st but couldn't quite connect on the incoming cross. UCR's back line came through with a couple blocks in the 25th after a Pacific corner kick.  
• Westley Hastings fired a shot at the near post in the 37th minute but saw it deflected for a corner that resulted in Mika Sebastian Kosch's header ending up in the goalkeeper's breadbasket.  
• UC Riverside made a final push at goal in the last minute of the first half with Christian Ceja and Oscar Emilio Trujillo Lizarraga toying with the defense but coming up empty handed.  
• The Highlanders held an 8-3 shot advantage at the break, but it was Pacific dictating the scoring chances out of halftime with a blocked shot shortly after the resumption of play. The Tigers eventually broke through with the opener in the 60th minute.  
• UCR began to build momentum in the attacking third as urgency mounted. Lukic nearly notched his second goal of the year in the 70th minute with a low laser from outside the 18 before Jona Martinez broke through the attacking midfield on the next sequence and sailed a ball over the bar. Edward Castro followed suit with an attempt on net just minutes after subbing on.  

NOTABLES 

• Carlos Gonzalez tied Ashkan Khosravi in the second half with career save number 218 and later eclipsed him after making a third.  
• Tarek Hamideh made his collegiate soccer debut with 65 minutes as a substitute, recording two shots with one on goal.  
• Lukic and Ceja combined for eight of UCR's 19 shots, which was a new season high. Sunday was also the second consecutive match for the Highlanders notching at least 15 shots.  

UP NEXT 

• UCR is now headed out on a lengthy road trip, playing its next six matches away from the UC Riverside Soccer Stadium. The trek begins on Friday, September 6 with a 7:00 p.m. matchup at LMU.