March 26, 2009
DAVIS, Calif. - Five different Aggie players scored two goals each against UC Santa Cruz, then senior goalkeeper Diana Pivacek posted nine saves in a defensive battle against Harvard, as UC Davis prevailed in both of its games during a non-conference collegiate women's water polo tripleheader at Schaal Aquatics Center Thursday.
The 11th-ranked Aggies beat the Banana Slugs by a 17-3 final in the morning game, then delivered a 5-3 win over the Crimson in the nightcap. UC Davis moves to 17-7 after the sweep.
In Thursday's neutral-site game, freshman center Devan Kennifer scored six goals to help Harvard take a 12-8 win over UCSC. Annie Keating led the Slugs with four goals, helping UCSC jump out to a 3-1 lead in the first period.
The Aggies held UCSC to 3-for-18 shooting, scoring 10 unanswered goals from the early first quarter to the opening minute of the fourth. Dana Nelsen scored two goals in the first period, then Dakotah Mohr, Heidi Kucera, Michelle Hook and Ariel Feeney each matched that total during the remainder of the game. Junior goalkeeper Casey Hines recorded seven saves in three quarters of work, then sophomore Cara Schoeman added two more blocks in the fourth period.
UC Davis and Harvard engaged in the lowest scoring matchup of the year for either team. Sophomore center Lauren Seidemann scored two goals for the Aggies, including one of her team's two 6-on-5 scores in the first period, as part of a 4-0 start in the contest. Kennifer posted goals in each of the third and fourth quarters, but the Crimson never cut the lead by less than two goals down the stretch.
Both goalkeepers stepped up for key saves in Thursday's nightcap. Pivacek stopped nine attempts, including a five-meter penalty shot late in the fourth. Her counterpart, senior Nicole Perlman, tallied seven blocks. She had five after the halftime break, including a pair against UC Davis 6-on-5 chances.
Harvard's Kennifer was the day's leading scorer, finishing with eight total goals in two games.
UC Davis begins Big West Conference play in a road game at UC Santa Barbara on Saturday.
| UC Santa Cruz | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | - | 3 |
| #11 UC Davis | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | - | 17 |
GOALS - UCSC: Heather Stewart 1, Annie Keating 1, Annie Gunnell 1. UC Davis: Dana Nelsen 2, Dakotah Mohr 2, Heidi Kucera 2, Michelle Hook 2, Ariel Feeney 2, Christina Miyabe 1, Carey Faber 1, Lindsay Kiyama 1, Rachelle Smith 1, Cari MacPhail 1, Lisa Bender 1, Kaylee Miller 1.
GOALIE SAVES - UCSC: Jennifer Parra 7 (32:00). UC Davis: Casey Hines 7 (24:00), Cara Schoeman 2 (8:00).
| Harvard | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | - | 12 |
| UC Santa Cruz | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | - | 8 |
GOALS - HU: Devan Kennifer 6, Monica Zdrojewski 2, Ita Barton-Kettleborough 2, Shannon Purcell 1, Lizzie Abbott 1. UCSC: Annie Keating 4, Mollie Chadwick 3, Nila Ward 1.
GOALIE SAVES - HU: Laurel McCarthy 5 (32:00). UCSC: Jennifer Parra 7 (32:00).
| Harvard | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | 3 |
| #11 UC Davis | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | 5 |
GOALS - HU: Devan Kennifer 2, Shannon Purcell 1. UC Davis: Lauren Seidemann 2, Dakotah Mohr 1, Rachelle Smith 1, Alicia Began 1.
GOALIE SAVES - HU: Nicole Perlman 8 (32:00). UC Davis: Diana Pivacek 9 (32:00).
