RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Sacramento State freshman forward Jessie Gonzalez scored his first collegiate goal in the 77th minute but UC Riverside built a 3-0 lead and completed a 3-1 win in Big West play Saturday night in Riverside.

Sacramento State (3-6-1, 0-2-0 Big West) had a strong late push with the goal as well as four more shots and a corner over the last seven minutes, including a shot by Gonzalez that hit the crossbar. UC Riverside (5-5-1, 1-1-0 Big West) scored just nine minutes into the game and led 2-0 at the half before extending to a 3-0 lead in the 68th minute.

Gonzalez scored his first career goal off an assist from junior Javier Muñoz. The Hornet defender sent a ball from the center circle and found Gonzalez to the right of the Highlander goal for a finish to the far post. Gonzalez became the seventh Hornet to score a goal this season.

The Hornets were held to just two shots on goal in the game while UC Riverside had six and totaled an 18-13 edge in shots overall. Corner kicks were 4-3 in favor of the Highlanders, who had an 11-5 shot advantage in the first half.

UCR struck first in the ninth minute when Emilio Huerta stole the ball in his own end and drove the right side of the box before sending a cross to teammate Norberto Ochoa, who finished to the far post. The home team doubled its lead in 41st minute when Zachary Dunn passed to the right side of the box and Kouri Nago found the inside of the far post.

Sacramento State had just one shot on goal in the first half, with redshirt freshman Brad Bumgarner denied by Highlander goalkeeper Ashkan Khosravi in the 20th minute. The Hornets were stronger offensively in the second half with an 8-7 edge in shots, but the goal by Gonzalez was the only try they had on goal.

UC Riverside scored its third goal in the 68th minute as Ochoa scored again off a give-and-go with teammate Michael Salazar.

Sophomore goalkeeper James Del Curto had two saves in the first half and a third stop in the second half while Khosravi had just the one save for the win. Guzman and Bumgarner were two of four Hornets with two shots in the game. Ochoa and Salazar paced the Highlanders with four shots apiece.

The Hornets have their first Big West home games next week, hosting UC Irvine on Thursday and CSUN on Saturday. Both games will begin at 4 p.m. at Hornet Field.