Women’s Soccer Drops Big West Opener

Wednesday, September 23

Fullerton, Calif.

6:00 pm

UC Riverside

2-6-0, 0-1-0

Cal State Fullerton

4-2-3, 1-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
UC Riverside	0	0	0
Cal St. Fullerton	2	0	2

Game Notes

Photo by: Roderick Orellana

Women’s Soccer Drops Big West Opener

9/23/2026 8:17:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Highlanders battled Cal State Fullerton in Wednesday night conference opener

FULLERTON, Calif. - UC Riverside (2-6-0, 0-1-0 Big West) kicked off its 26th Big West season on Wednesday night at Titan Stadium with a 2-0 defeat to Cal State Fullerton (4-2-3, 1-0-0 Big West).

UCR spent the majority of its possession in the Titans' half just beyond the halfway line.

Lauren Nguyen didn't take long to attack with a third minute shot to the left of Fullerton's keeper. The Titans scored in the next minute, but UCR continued pressing with attempts from Finley Aghassi and Natalie Darling. Aghassi followed it up with her second shot wide of the net in the 20th minute.

Darling and Nguyen each made their fourth starts for the Highlanders this season.

UCR denied a close-range attempt in the 22nd minute, but Fullerton doubled its lead in the 26th. KaMia Elliott made the first two of her four saves just after the half-hour mark.

Rylee Lewis forced Fullerton's keeper into action with a 36th minute shot from the top corner of the 18.

UC Riverside kept the deficit at two after a sequence that saw a blocked Titan attempt sandwiched between a pair of corner kicks from the hosts.

Macie Baird let one go from midpitch on the hour mark, but the defender's lengthy shot met the keeper at the bottom left.

Both sides traded attempts in the 62nd and 63rd minutes, Elliott made a crucial stop in the 80th minute, and UCR blocked two more in the 82nd and 84th minutes.

UC Riverside returns to action on Saturday, September 26, for a 1:00 pm matinee against California Baptist in the Crosstown Showdown. Tickets are available now at www.GoHighlanders.com/tickets.