Box Score

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- The USD men's soccer team (2-2-2) fell at UC Riverside 2-0 Thursday evening at the hands of two second half goals from the Highlanders.

The game was delayed after UCR's stadium lights wouldn't turn on, but the Toreros came out strong in the opening half.

"We were the better team in the first half and had some really good opportunities to score," Head Coach Seamus McFadden said after the match.

Riverside's first goal came in the 56th minute when Ricardo Ruiz slotted a ball up the middle to Antonio Lokossou, who finished from 10 yards out.

The Highlanders converted on a free kick in the 75th minute to extend their lead. From 35 yards out Romario Lomeli found Stephen Copley's head to give UCR a 2-0 lead.

"We started the second half poorly, but we still had a couple of opportunities to score," McFadden stated. "They [Riverside] are really tough to play at home. We just didn't perform properly in my opinion. No excuses though, we have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot in order to get better."

The Toreros best chance came after Parker Price headed a ball across the box. USD had a shot but the UCR keeper made a reflex save to preserve the shutout.

The Toreros tallied 13 shots compared to UCR's seven, but both teams had four on goal. Merlin Baus led USD with four shots.

The Toreros were playing without their starting goalkeeper Thomas Olsen after he received a red card early in USD's last match. In his first collegiate start, Connor Hountalas (1-0-1) collected two saves and drew praise from Coach McFadden.

"Connor did really well," McFadden said. "He saved some great shots. He did great"

In the 88th minute, Baus was issued a red card and will miss the Toreros next match.

"We have to find a way," McFadden explained. "It doesn't get any easier for us with all the road matches coming up."

The Toreros play their next five matches on the road. They are at UNLV (2-4-0) on Tuesday for a 7:00 p.m. match, which will be streamed live on the Mountain West Network.