SAN DIEGO – UC Riverside dropped a 6-0 decision to San Diego on Sunday evening at Torero Stadium. 

UCR's defense got the evening's first taste of action. Ally Yoshimura, making her second career start and second straight, was central to a defensive fray in the fifth minute that the Highlanders cleaned out of San Diego's final third. 

UC Riverside saw its first glimpse of the attacking third in the 13th minute. The chance stemmed from a recycled ball that was lofted down the right side and scrappily pushed forward. Two minutes later, Mia DiLeo kept the pressure on and just missed on a cross, despite positioning herself dangerously in the box. 

San Diego drew a penalty in the 19th minute and went ahead on the spot kick. Trinity Hale denied a 2-0 deficit three minutes later with a right-handed deflection over the crossbar. 

UC Riverside picked up its attack again in the latter part of the first half. The Highlanders won a set piece in the 28th minute and Finley Aghassi stood over the ball, but the freshman overshot the goal.

A gritty attacking midfield dispossession granted UCR a brief spell of offense in the 31st minute, as the Highlanders opted to build out of the back before holding possession. Patient pressure proved fruitful for Lauren Nguyen, who was able to play an albeit unsuccessful cross directly in front of goal. 

Nguyen continued to sneak UCR through the Toreros' back line, winning a 41st minute free kick that Selena Hernandez went direct with right to the keeper. 

Action switched ends of the pitch closer to halftime. Hale came to the rescue again just before the intermission, making a kick save at the near post in the 44th minute. The Idaho State transfer could do nothing but watch a ball go over her shoulder in the 54th, though, as San Diego doubled its lead. 

Nguyen immediately shifted momentum off restart and won UCR's first corner after a 1v1 with San Diego's keeper. 

Sanaa Guyness flew the ball into the boots of Audrey Stewart in the 85th minute, but Stewart's close-range attempt was turned away. 

UC Riverside returns to the pitch on Thursday, September 11 at California Baptist. Kickoff for the Crosstown Showdown is scheduled for 7:30 pm on ESPN+.