Oct. 22, 2011

Box Score

DAVIS, Calif. - Freshman forward Matt Wiesenfarth scored the equalizer in the 83rd minute then sophomore midfielder Alex Aguiar converted a go-ahead penalty kick to complete UC Davis' comeback from a late 1-0 deficit to a 2-1 victory in Big West Conference men's soccer action at Aggie Soccer Stadium Saturday afternoon in front of 765 fans.

The Aggies, winners of three straight and five of the last six, improve to 7-6-2 for the year and 5-2 in conference matches. The Mustangs slip to 6-7-2 overall and move to 3-4 in Big West play.

After a scoreless first half in which each team only managed one goal on frame, Cal Poly was the first to the scoreboard on Kyle Montgomery's goal in the 66th minute. Mustang freshman Keegan Smith sent a quick pass over to Montgomery, who blasted a low line drive from more than 25 yards out along the left flank. The shot sailed into the upper-right corner of the Aggie net, well out of reach of goalkeeper Omar Zeenni.

In the 83rd minute, Wiesenfarth collected a pass along the right flat of the Aggies' attacking third. He worked the ball past a pair of Mustang defenders before delivering a cross-cage shot into the net for the equalizer.

"Once again, we came back from being down 1-0. The guys are proving to themselves that they can come from behind," said UC Davis head coach Dwayne Shaffer. "The big thing is that mentally, they're so tough. Every game has been a one-goal game except for one in our season. It's tough to teach freshmen and sophomores that kind of fight. You can't train that. You just have to experience it, and that's what's happening.

"I did not feel we were ever going to lose the game. I felt like we were in the game and that it was just a matter of time before we got one to get us back into it. Once again, Matt Wiesenfarth... everybody in the conference knows about him and they try to mark him, but he's a handful. He scored another great goal."

With the score tied, both momentum and overall ball control shifted in favor of UC Davis. In the 86th minute, the Aggies drew the only corner kick of the game. The Mustangs committed a foul - plus a pair of dissent yellow cards - inside the penalty box. Shaffer summoned Aguiar for the shot. Cal Poly goalkeeper Patrick McLain played the penalty kick well, even sticking a healthy piece of his glove on it, but the ball bounced upwards and into the net for the go-ahead.

The Mustangs had their best opportunity of the first half when they drew a penalty kick at the 23:46 mark. But senior Patrick Sigler's attempt sailed just high of the crossbar, and both teams would wait until the second half before cracking the scoreless tie.

UC Davis awaits the outcome of the Cal State Fullerton-UC Irvine match to see if it leads the Big West outright or shares the lead. The Aggies return to action with a road contest at UC Santa Barbara on Wednesday.

GOALS - Cal Poly: Kyle Montgomery (Keegan Smith), 65:54. UC Davis: Matt Wiesenfarth (unassisted), 82:24; Alex Aguiar (penalty kick), 85:31.
SHOTS - Cal Poly: 10. UC Davis: 12.
SAVES - Cal Poly: Patrick McLain 3. UC Davis: Omar Zeenni 2.
CORNERS - Cal Poly: 0. UC Davis: 1.
FOULS - Cal Poly: 10. UC Davis: 6.