Aug 17, 2013
Box Score
DAVIS, Calif. - Sophomore forward Sienna Drizin capped an Aggie counterattack by scoring the only goal in Friday's exhibition match in the 85th minute to help her team secure a 1-0 win over the Oregon Ducks at Aggie Soccer Stadium.
"I think everyone played with confidence against a quality opponent," said head coach Maryclaire Robinson following the match. "I am very pleased with the way we competed with confidence today."
UC Davis will officially start its season on Friday, Aug. 23, when Sacramento State visits Davis in this year's Causeway Cup matchup.
Drizin's goal was the perfect finish to a play that originated in the Aggies' half of the field. After forcing an Oregon turnover, midfielder Jill Bilodeaux found fellow midfielder Ashley Edwards racing down the far sideline with nothing but open field around her.
With Oregon's backline scrambling to catch up to Edwards, the senior dribbled the ball for a few moments to attract the attention of the Ducks' defenders before launching a cross that found Drizin's feet just outside the penalty area. From there, Drizin made one quick cut towards the net before firing her third, and final shot of the afternoon - one that easily beat the outstretched arms of Oregon goalkeeper Lauren Holden.
Even though each team's totals were similar to one another on paper, five of Oregon's 12 shots were on goal compared to six of UC Davis' 13 shots, it was the Aggies that dominated possession when it mattered the most.
Unlike the battle for possession that took place in the middle third for a majority of the opening half, the second half primarily took place in Oregon's third of the pitch.
Compared to the Ducks who had only five players record a shot, nine Aggies took turns firing away at Oregon goalkeepers Abby Steele and Holden.
One of four freshmen who recorded a shot in their inaugural Division I match as an Aggie, Nicole Smolinski was inches away from scoring UC Davis' first goal.
Less than a handful of minutes after stepping onto Aggie Soccer Field for the first time early in the match, the defender launched a shot near the top of the penalty box that nearly snuck under the crossbar before Holden's fingertips redirected the ball over the net at the last moment.
Marielle Pastor, Bilodeaux and Emma Tinloy were the other freshman to record a shot in their first game as an Aggie.
UC Davis starting goalkeeper Taylor Jern and Katie Foster combined efforts to record the shutout; each took the field for 45 minutes with the former recording four saves, and the latter earning one.
