LAS VEGAS – UC Riverside returned to the road on a weather-challenged Thursday night in Las Vegas with a 3-0 defeat to UNLV at Peter Johann Memorial Field. 

UCR fell behind early on a header from a free kick before Mia DiLeo accounted for the Highlanders' first two shots of the night. The freshman went for the top center of the net in the sixth minute before having an attempt blocked in the 15th. 

The Highlanders continued pressing and won an albeit unsuccessful corner shortly after. Macie Baird later went for goal with a free kick over the bar in the 22nd minute after DiLeo won a free kick in the attacking third. 

Both sides resumed play following a lengthy lightning delay after halftime.

UCR reclaimed possession in the attacking midfield and pushed the ball into the final third for Rylee Lewis. Lewis collected the Highlanders' first second half attempt in the 55th minute and won a corner that was cleared away. 

DiLeo pickpocketed a defender in the 63rd minute, but fired her third shot of the night right into a second defender at the top of the box. UNLV doubled its lead 10 minutes later on a corner kick and converted from the penalty spot in the 84th minute. 

The Highlanders kept chopping with a pair of shots from Paige Gartner in the final three minutes of play. 

UC Riverside continues the road trip with a Sunday evening matchup at San Diego. Kickoff against the Toreros is scheduled for 5:00 pm on ESPN+.