Sept. 28, 2005

Box Score

DAVIS, Calif. - Sophomore midfielder Nicholas Lind posted a goal and an assist to lead UC Davis to a 2-0 win over Cal State Fullerton in non-conference men's collegiate soccer action at Aggie Field Wednesday before a crowd of 457. He set up teammate Dylan Curtis in the 13th minute, then scored a goal of his own in the 29th.

The Aggies, who are undefeated in five contests at home, improve to 4-3-2 for the season. The Titans drop to 1-5-1 overall.

Curtis put UC Davis on the board at the 15:08 mark in the first half. He took a cross from Lind in the left flank, then redirected it into the Fullerton net. The Aggies continued to apply pressure, firing five shots at the Titan cage before Lind connected at the 29:04 mark. He beat two defenders, advanced to approximately the eight-yard line, then sent a shot into the lower left corner to double his team's lead. In all, UC Davis outshot its guests by a 12-3 margin in the first half.

"I'm extremely pleased. We finally got lead early in a game. It's a lot easier to play when you're up 1-0 than when you're down 1-0," said Aggie head coach Dwayne Shaffer. "Our energy and effort was good. We were putting pressure on them, and it was just a matter of time before got that first goal."

Fullerton's senior striker Jose Barragan nearly scored about a minute later when he eluded UC Davis' back line. However, his shot missed just left of the post. In the 33rd minute, Barragan found teammate Skyler Thureson on a quick touch, but Thureson sent a hard drive right into the hands of Aggie goalkeeper Derek Shaffer.

Barragan threatened again late in the first half as he blasted a hard line drive at the lower corner of the UC Davis cage. Shaffer again was there for the save and Aggie defender Paul Cain successfully cleared the rebound out of harm's way.

"In the last four games, we felt were getting players behind and getting chances to score, but our serves hadn't been good," said Coach Shaffer. "It would get cut off by the first defender. We talked about how we had to beat that first defender. Ultimately, that was the reason we had not gotten the victories."

The Titans managed more opportunities in the second half, including two quick blasts from Jacob Shumway and Steve Moreno in the 51st minutes that deflected off UC Davis' back-row personnel. However, Aggie freshman Ahmad Hatifie came off the bench to apply continual pressure in the early going of the second period. He took a perfect cross from Mariano Arrua, but headed the shot wide left in the 54th minute. Then in the 56th, Hatifie sent a ball to forward Quincy Amarikwa, who sailed his attempt high over the crossbar.

Both teams sat through a frightening stoppage of play soon after Amarikwa's shot. Referee Jeff Forward whistled the ball dead as Titan defender Amir Shafii lay motionless on the field. Eventually, emergency medical personnel removed Shafii on a stretcher and back support, and the game resumed after a 20-minute delay.

Each team continued to threaten in a half marked by strong transition play, but neither squad managed to score despite four corner kicks and eight combined shots.

Derek Shaffer finished the game with five saves in net, picking up his third shutout in four starts as an Aggie. His counterpart, junior Bobby Armstrong, had three saves for the match.

Barragan led Fullerton with five total shots, including three on goal.

UC Davis returns to action on Sunday for the Causeway Classic at Sacramento State. Gametime is 1 p.m.

GOALS - CSF: none. UC Davis: Dylan Curtis (Nicholas Lind), 15:08; Nicholas Lind (unassisted), 29:04.
SHOTS - CSF: 10. UC Davis: 18.
SAVES - CSF: Bobby Armstrong 3 (90:00). UC Davis: Derek Shaffer 5 (90:00).
CORNERS - CSF: 3. UC Davis: 7.
FOULS - CSF: 14. UC Davis: 17.