SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - UC Riverside (0-15-2, 0-8-1 Big West) found a second half equalizer, but dropped a 3-1 decision to UC Santa Barbara (12-3-4, 5-1-3 Big West) on Sunday afternoon at Harder Stadium. 

UCR created a chance off the jump with a corner kick inside 20 seconds. The Highlanders kept possession after and Spenser Gonzales volleyed an attempt at the left post. KaMia Elliott, making her first collegiate appearance and start in goal, dealt with the Gauchos' first corner in the sixth minute. 

Mia DiLeo took possession from an unsuccessful Gaucho corner kick in the 11th minute and streaked down the right side, but the brief spell was short-lived as Santa Barbara struck first in the 13th minute. 

Elliott denied a Gaucho opportunity at the back post in the 18th minute for her first real test of the afternoon. UCR's back line dealt with a separate scoring chance in the 22nd, and Elliott later got a piece of a 1v1 just before halftime to keep the deficit at a minimum. 

The Highlanders recycled an unsuccessful corner out of halftime and built out of the midfield, finding Sarah Mahfoud in the 51st minute for the equalizer and her second goal of the season. 

Paige Gartner and UCR frustrated Santa Barbara's attack in the final third close to the hour mark. The Fallbrook native poked the ball off an attacker at an instance to keep the draw intact and shielded another Gaucho in the 67th.

UC Santa Barbara retook the lead in the 73rd minute on a centering pass, and scored an insurance goal in the 86th. 

UC Riverside will close the season on Thursday, October 30 with a visit from UC Davis at the UCR Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 pm on ESPN+.