IRVINE, Calif. – UC Riverside made Sunday's Big West opener at UC Irvine interesting, but ultimately dropped a 3-1 decision in the matinee at Anteater Stadium.
Offense was scarce on both sides with no attempts through the first nine minutes. UCR faced its first test in rapid succession with three shots in a two minute span, all denied. The back line blocked the second one with the other two being cleared away.
Nikki Velasco, who returned to the starting XI after putting in 73 minutes against LMU on Thursday, recorded UC Riverside's first shot in the 23rd minute. Velasco sent it high and left from outside the 18.
UCI broke through in the 31st minute on a low shot past the near post for the 1-0 advantage. Mia DiLeo almost pulled one back in the 33rd, missing high from the top of the box.
The afternoon's first offside denied UCI a quick buildup after the halftime restart. Finley Aghassi took advantage of the free possession and let one fly from the attacking midfield in the 47th minute for UCR's third shot. Aghassi, now with a team-high ___ minutes, continued her streak of starting every match this season.
On the other side of the ball, the Highlanders kept a tight seal with no Irvine shots through the first 17 minutes after halftime. The first of the period went past Talisa Perez on a converted penalty in the 63rd minute.
DiLeo and Selena Hernandez both went for goal in the 69th and 70th minutes as UCR continued trying to break through Irvine's defense. Perez deflected an attempt over the end line in the 72nd minute before the back line took care of the corner.
UC Irvine went back on their attacking threat, but momentum swayed back in UCR's favor in the 79th minute. Sarah Mahfoud smashed the top bin from the top of the six just five minutes after re-entering to pull one back at 2-1.
UCI sealed the win with a heartbreaking third goal in the 89th minute.
UC Riverside returns to action on Thursday, September 25 to host Cal State Fullerton in its Big West home opener. Tickets are available now at GoHighlanders.com.
