RIVERSIDE, Calif. – UC Riverside dropped a 2-0 decision to California Baptist on Thursday night at CBU Soccer Stadium.
Macie Baird returned to the starting XI on Thursday and immediately frustrated CBU's attack. Baird forced a low quality shot in the sixth minute that Trinity Hale easily caught, at which point the Highlanders were well in position to continue defending. UCR also forced a shot off the crossbar before drawing a CBU header wide left and a pair of corner kicks back to the midfield.
CBU went ahead in the 11th minute despite the Highlanders' continued protection in front of Hale.
UC Riverside made its first trip into the attacking third in the 15th minute and tapped the ball around, ending the possession with a Sanaa Guyness curler just off the far post. The back line blocked a pair of shots at the top of the box in the 18th minute before clearing the chaos.
Paige Gartner held a ball on the left touchline in the 25th minute with plenty of open space. Gartner lobbed a ball into a newly subbed on Sarah Mahfoud, who was just offside in one of the Highlanders' best chances of the half.
Gartner, now on the other side of the ball, blocked a CBU attempt in the box in the 32nd minute before play was recycled to center pitch. The Lancers doubled their lead in the 38th, but Rylee Lewis almost responded immediately from beyond the 18 just before the break.
UC Riverside emerged from halftime with a spike as Selena Hernandez won a free kick in dangerous territory early. Spenser Gonzales stood over the ball on the set piece and connected on an eventual goal, but UCR's first of the night was called back for offside.
In a nearly mirrored sequence from Gartner to Mahfoud, Sanaa Guyness held possession on the touchline in the 65th minute and lobbed a ball into a dangerous Lauren Nguyen. Nguyen, whose close range chance was denied, had just subbed on with fresh legs.
UCR showed spurts of offense late, generating pace and positive momentum in the final 20 minutes.
UC Riverside returns to action on Sunday, September 14 for a 7:00 pm kickoff at San Diego State on the Mountain West Network.
