FINAL SCORE: Vermont 2, UC Riverside 0
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The UVM men's soccer team scored two goals in the second half and handed UC Riverside a 2-0 defeat on Sunday afternoon in the final contest of its weekend trip in California.
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score
 
The Catamounts reached the win column for the fourth time this season and improve to 4-3 while the Highlanders are left searching for their first victory at 0-6.
 
Vermont was on the attack early in the first half. In the eighth minute, Daði Bærings Halldórsson booted a shot on a free kick but the attempt resulted in a save by Riverside goalie Vincent Morales (4 saves).
 
In the 16th minute, the Catamounts' defense stepped up to keep the Highlanders off the scoreboard. Antonio Lokossou had his shot deflected away by UVM keeper Aron Runarsson (8 saves) which resulted in a corner kick. On the ensuing corner, Rober Garcia-Vargas lined another UC Riverside attempt but a UVM defender blocked the scoring chance.
 
The Green and Gold broke through with the first goal of the afternoon in the 53rd minute. Tom Cole tossed a throw-in towards the box to Justin Freitas, who headed a pass into the center of the box and Jon Arnar Barðdal hit a one-timer into the back of the net.
 
UVM's defense came up big again in the 77th minute. The Catamounts blocked a shot from Emilio Huerta and escaped a header by Antonio Lokossou that flew high after the threat was set up by a corner kick.
 
Geo Alves provided an insurance goal for the Cats in the 88th minute with his sixth goal of the season. Alves dribbled past midfield and passed out wide to Freitas on the right side. Freitas beat his defender towards the end line and sent a low pass back to Alves in the six-yard box where the 5-8 forward finished inside of the near post.  
 
Vermont continues its six-game road trip with a visit to twin state rival Dartmouth on Saturday (Sept. 23) at 4 p.m. The game will be streamed live on a pay-per-view basis on the Ivy League Digital Network.