Nov. 18, 2007

Final Stats

IRVINE, Calif. - Senior Dylan Curtis scored the game-winning goal just over seven minutes into the first overtime period to lead No. 29 UC Davis to a 2-1 Big West Conference men's soccer victory over UC Irvine at Anteater Stadium during the regular-season finale for both teams Sunday afternoon.

The Aggies, who finished their inaugural Big West Conference season on a six-game unbeaten streak, finish one point ahead of Cal Poly for second place with a conference mark of 7-3-2. The victory also pushes UC Davis' overall record to 12-4-3 and gives them hope to earn an at-large bid into the NCAA Division I tournament. That official announcement will come live on ESPNEWS on Monday afternoon.

The Anteaters finish their 2007 season with an overall record of 6-9-5 and 1-8-2 in conference. The Aggies defeated UC Irvine at home by an identical 2-1 score early in the season. UC Davis has now recorded three season sweep over conference foes.

Sophomore Paul Marcoux supplied both assists to up his season total to five. Freshman goalkeeper Ryan McCowan had a game-high six saves in goal for his team-leading sixth victory of the season.

UC Davis jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute as junior Ian Conklin scored his fourth goal of the season. Marcoux played the ball through the box onto a charging Conklin, who then beat Anteater goalkeeper Eric Reingen one on one.

UC Irvine evened the score at 1-1 two minutes before the half off a goal from Matt Murphy. Gray Bailey setup the game-tying score off a throw in from the right side of the field. Murphpy collected the ball and put it past McCowan for one of his game-high six shots.

Curtis logged his second game-winning goal of the season in the 98th minute of the contest as he took a pass from Marcoux in the center of the box and sent it past a diving Reingen.

Reingen finished with four saves.

The two teams had equal opportunities to convert scores during the contest as they had identical totals of seven shots on goal and six corner kicks. UC Davis managed one more shot, 14-13.

The Aggies were also whistled for more fouls, 22-14, but the Anteaters were issued all four yellow cards.

Along with Curtis, it was the final regular season game for Aggie seniors Paul Cain, Nicholas Lind, Julien Cerutti and Matt Slagle. UC Irvine also honored its seniors before the start of the contest.

The Aggies will learn their playoff fate Monday afternoon. The announcement will come during the live selection show on ESPNEWS, starting at 2:30 p.m. PST.