Oct. 20, 2010

Box Score

DAVIS, Calif. - UC Santa Barbara scored in the 51st minute, then finished with a goal in the 85th minute to take a 2-0 victory from the UC Davis men's soccer team Wednesday night at Aggie Stadium in Davis, Calif.

The loss breaks a three-match win streak for UC Davis who drops to 5-9 overall and 3-3 in the Big West Conference. UC Santa Barbara, ranked 18th nationally, moves to 9-3-2 overall and 5-1 in league play and remains in the top spot in the conference standings.

UC Davis remains in fourth place in the Big West Conference standings and is still in position to secure a trip to the conference tournament.

Despite outshooting UC Davis 7-2, the Gauchos could not find the back of the net. Their closest chance came in the 34th minute when Sam Garza took a low hard shot from the right side across the goal. UC Davis goalkeeper Omar Zeenni made a diving save and was able to deflect the ball over the touchline with one hand.

The Aggies nearly had a goal with only a minute left in the first period. At the 44:02 mark, Dan Reese collected the ball just past midfield and raced against two Gaucho defenders. As UCSB goalkeeper Sam Hayden came out to save the ball, Reese chipped the ball over Hayden's head, but the shot hit the crossbar, deflected back and was cleared out by UC Santa Barbara.

The Gauchos struck in the 51st minute when Nic Ryan found the back of the net. Ryan's header attempt was deflected back into play by UC Davis goalkeeper Omar Zeenni, but Ryan was there for the rebound and one-touched the ball into the right side of the goal.

Reese almost had the equalizer in the 60th minute for UC Davis. Freshman Kevin Schulte dribbled down the right sideline, beating out two Gaucho defenders, then served the ball in to the middle of the field which found Reese's feet. Covered by a Gaucho defender, Reese took a touch, turned and fired a shot, but UC Santa Barbara's defense deflected the shot away.

UC Davis continued to apply offensive pressure and seven minutes later, Alex Aguiar dribbled down the left side towards the touchline before sending a low hard cross across the penalty area. Hayden dove and got a hand on it, but the ball bounced away from him and fell to Alex Henry, but Henry's one-touch was too powerful and went over the crossbar and out of play.

Only six minutes later, UC Davis was awarded a corner kick and Henry's service found a waiting Lance Patterson who headed the ball towards the goal. Hayden was out of position and the ball appeared to be going in, until Danny Barrera cleared it out for the Gauchos.

UC Santa Barbara got another good look when Sam Garza dribbled around two UC Davis defenders and found himself alone in front of the goal with the ball. Garza fired a shot but Zeenni used two hands to powerfully deflect the ball away.

The Gauchos, however, took the lead for good at the 85:36 mark when Luis Silva scored on a shot to the lower left corner from 10 yards out.

Zeenni recorded four saves on the night while Sam Hayden had one save. UC Santa Barbara outshot UC Davis 13-6 and were led by Sam Garza's three shots. Lance Patterson also recorded three shots, two of which were on frame for UC Davis. Dan Reese had two shots while Alex Henry finished with one attempt.

The Aggies will travel to face Cal Poly Sunday at 1 p.m.