RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The UC Santa Barbara men's soccer team was defeated for the first time since the start of Big West play on Saturday at UC Riverside, as three second half goals put the Highlanders on top 4-1.

The loss drops the Gauchos (9-3-6) out of first place in the conference standings for the first time this season, while UCR (6-7-4, 5-2-2) earned its first ever Big West regular season championship. UCSB will take the No. 2 seed into next Saturday's Big West Tournament Semifinal matchup with either No. 3 UC Irvine or No. 6 Sacramento State.

HOW IT HAPPENED
A chippy start to the night would lead to the contest's first goal in the 12th minute.

UCR 1, UCSB 0 – Noah Lopez 12' (Brendan Clark)
The Gauchos picked up their sixth foul of the early-going, setting up a Riverside free kick from the left wing. A ball played towards the far post by Brndan found the head of Brendan Clark, who had risen high to meet it and play it back across goal and in off a UCSB defender.

UCR 1, UCSB 1 – Henry Davies 30' (L. Gonzalez)
Santa Barbara would tie things up in the 30th minute on a set piece of its own. Midfielder Lucas Gonzalez played in a near post ball that Davies was able to flick on just inside the far post.

UCR 2, UCSB 1 – Issa Badawiya 55'
Things would stay tied until a goal 10 minutes into the second half. After an initial shot forced goalkeeper Leroy Zeller to make a diving one-handed save, UCR senior Issa followed it up with a rebound to punch it in before Zeller could recover.

UCR 3, UCSB 1 – Oscar Penate 73' (N. Lopez)
The Highlanders doubled their advantage in the 74th minute. As the Gauchos pushed numbers forward on the attack, a good defensive play poked the ball away and it was cleared, leading to a quick counter. Noah Lopez cut inside before sending a perfect aerial through ball to Oscar Penate, whose low shot on first contact went perfectly placed into the far post.

UCR 4, UCSB 1 – Luka Lukic 90' (J. Varela)
Riverside capped their day with a final goal in the 90th minute. A goal kick sent the ball down into the Highlanders' attacking third and UCSB was unable to clear it, allowing Josue Varela to play it Luka Lukic making a run in the center of the box to poke it in for UCR's season-high fourth goal of the night.

NOTABLE

• The Gauchos gave up twice as many goals on Saturday as they had during their first eight conference matches. After starting the Big West season with six consecutive shutouts, UCSB has now given up six goals over its last three outings.
• Henry Davies' goal was his second of the season and fifth of his career. He becomes one of six Gauchos to score multiple goals this season and – for the second straight year – is the only defender on the team do so.

NEXT UP
The Big West Tournament begins with the quarterfinals on Wednesday, Nov. 2 with No. 5 UC Davis traveling to face No. 4 CSUN and No. 6 Sac State heading to No. 3 UC Irvine. The winner between Sac State and Irvine will travel to UCSB to face the Gauchos on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 7:00 p.m. at Harder Stadium.