RIVERSIDE, Calif. – A late first half goal was enough to put top-seeded UC Riverside on top in Saturday's Big West Championship, handing the No. 2 UC Santa Barbara men's soccer team a 1-0 defeat.

The Gauchos (10-4-6) were the aggressors for the first seven minutes of the match, but that would change as Riverside began to be dangerous on the counter. The Highlanders (8-7-4) forced three first half saves from junior goalkeeper Leroy Zeller and nearly scored on a corner in the 25th minute with a shot that caromed off the crossbar.

Santa Barbara didn't get a shot on target in the first third of the match, but would have four in the span of five minutes. Forward Finn Ballard McBride tested goalkeeper Carlos Gonzalez twice and freshmen Eddie Villeda and Filip Basili had two more shots saved shortly after.

With several minutes left before halftime, a Gaucho foul slowed down the UCR attack but awarded the home side a free kick from 35 yards out. An inswinging ball from Brendan Clark took a bounce off the turf and found Luka Lukic, who took it off his chest before heading it up and over Zeller to put the Highlanders ahead.

UCSB would try everything over a contentious final 45 minutes, but couldn't find the crisp passing in the final third that has seen the Gauchos lead the conference in wins and win percentage for three straight seasons. Santa Barbara ended the night with an 8-6 advantage in shots.

With their quest to repeat as Big West champs now behind them, the Gauchos will look ahead to Monday's NCAA Selection Show to decide the rest of their postseason fate. It airs on Nov. 14 at 10:00 a.m. on NCAA.com