Box Score Riverside, California - The SUU soccer team fell to UC Riverside in a high scoring affair Sunday afternoon, as the Highlanders defeated the Thunderbirds 4–2.
"This game was a tale of two halves," SUU head coach Becky Hogan said about the match. "The first half we implemented a formational tweak that our staff thought would be an upgrade that played to our strengths against Riverside. Unfortunately we got it wrong and chased the game for the entire half. As a credit to our players they battled and hung in there to keep it close."
The Thunderbirds now move to 1–3 on the season, dropping their last two matches on the road, while the Highlanders will even up their record at 2–2.
It didn't take the Highlanders very long to get on the board, as midfielder Alexa Bustamante headed the ball in the back of the net off a corner kick in just the 5th minute of play. Riverside would strike again in the 30th minute, when forward Danielle Lopez took a cross from defender Alina Cheatham and got it across the line to put the Highlanders up 2–0, which would remain the score at halftime.
UC Riverside struck again in the 49th minute with a goal off a penalty kick, giving the Highlanders a 3–0 advantage.
The Thunderbirds got on the board in the 52nd minute, when freshman forward Paige Robins put her third goal of the season in the back of the net, and cut the lead to 3–1.
The Highlanders scored for a fourth time in the 67th minute, as midfielder Alexa Bustamantle converted on a penalty kick.
No more than a minute later, SUU defender Kelsee Bone put another mark on the board for the Thunderbirds, and that would be the final goal, as the match ended 4–2.
Even though she gave up four goals, SUU goalkeeper Taylor Bolding finished the match with seven saves.
UC Riverside outshot SUU 18–9, and 10–1 in the first half.
"I'm proud of our team and the effort across the board," Hogan said. "Kelsee Bone came in and sparked the team with her fearless, relentless attack which paid off with a goal, and Paige Robins continued her offensive output with a poised, clinical finish.
Next up for the Thunderbirds will be a pair of in-state games, with a matchup against Dixie State in St. George on Thursday and SUU's regular season home opener on Sunday, as Utah Valley University will visit Cedar City.
