RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Highlanders welcomed Air Force to the UCR Soccer Stadium tonight for the home opener. Both teams entered win less, Air Force at 0-3 and UCR at 0-2.

The Highlanders had chances early in the match as Jackson D'Alessandro recorded the first shot of the game, but missed the target. Tarek Hamideh followed up with another shot in the 8', but that too missed the target. The Highlanders recorded 11 shots in the first half, but non on goal.

Air Force struck first, late in the first half (32') when Marcos Goni found the back of the net with a header off a corner. For Goni it was his second goal of the year.

UCR got the equalizer in the 65'. Wes Hastings threw it into the box and after a Brady Elliott header, Jose Maria Rabadan finally put it home. For Rabadan it was his first career goal as a Highlander and for UCR it was its first goal of the year.

Then in the 66' the Highlanders found pay dirt again when Hastings headed it in the lower left corner off an assist by Rabadan. Just like that the Highlanders had a 2-1 lead.

In the 72' the Highlanders had a great opportunity but could not capitalize as the ball sailed well above the crossbar. 

The Falcons got the equalizer in the 74' when Tucker Kern got it past Andrew Hermosillo.

That was all the scoring as both teams had chances in the final minutes, but could not score.

Next up for UCR is a trip to Las Vegas for a match with UNLV. That game will be September 5 at 7:00pm.