SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Aaron Hunter headed in the game winner for UC Riverside, leading the Highlanders to a 2-1 victory over Sacramento State on Friday afternoon at Hornet Soccer Field.The Hornets fall to 1-4-0 on the season, while UC Riverside improves to 3-2-0.
With the game knotted at 1-1, UC Riverside was allotted a free kick just outside the box. Erasmo Solorzano found Hunter open at the back post in the 63rd minute, with a header that dipped under the crossbar and out of the grasp of Sacramento State goalkeeper Nick Gargiulo.
Sacramento State fell behind early in the match when UC Riverside’s Nathan Peterson volleyed in his third goal of the season at the right post in the 11th minute.
The Hornets responded late in the half with a goal from senior forward Eliot Ricks-Chambers. The Sacramento native received a ball over the top of the defense from sophomore David Lopez and sent a quick shot to the near post that was saved by Highlander goalkeeper Charles Alamo. The deflection fell to Ricks-Chambers who drove his second attempt to the back of the net.
The Hornets pushed for the equalizer, with freshman Shelby Johnson missing narrowly on two headers in the last 15 minutes of the match.
The game was the first for both teams of the Saint Mary’s Classic. Sacramento State will play Bowling Green in the second game in Moraga at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.
