Highlanders Fall to UNLV 3-0 in Las Vegas Despite Persistent Attack
LAS VEGAS, NV – UC Riverside Women’s Soccer faced a tough challenge on Thursday night, falling 3-0 to UNLV at Peter Johann Memorial Field. The match was also briefly delayed due to lightning in the area. Despite the setback, the Highlanders demonstrated consistent offensive pressure throughout the contest.
UCR found themselves trailing early after UNLV capitalized on a header from a free kick. Freshman Mia DiLeo quickly responded with the Highlanders’ first two shots of the night, testing the UNLV goalkeeper in the 6th minute and having another attempt blocked in the 15th.
The Highlanders continued to push forward, earning a corner kick shortly after DiLeo’s second attempt. Macie Baird then took a shot from a free kick in the 22nd minute, narrowly missing the target.Play resumed after a significant lightning delay at halftime.UCR came out strong in the second half, regaining possession in the attacking midfield and driving the ball forward. Rylee Lewis registered the Highlanders’ first shot of the half in the 55th minute, earning a corner that was ultimately cleared by the UNLV defense.
DiLeo continued to be a threat, skillfully dispossessing a defender in the 63rd minute, but her shot was blocked by another rebel player.UNLV extended their lead to 2-0 with a goal off a corner kick, and later added a third from the penalty spot in the 84th minute.
UC Riverside refused to concede, with Paige Gartner taking two shots in the final three minutes of play, showcasing the team’s resilience.The highlanders will look to rebound on Sunday evening with a road matchup against San Diego. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 pm PT and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
**[Box Score](https://gohighlanders.com/sports/womens-soccer/stats/2025/
