Sept. 13, 2013

Box Score

SALT LAKE CITY - In the first head-to-head meeting in Friday's non-conference game at Ute Field in Salt Lake City, UC Davis and Utah exchanged goals throughout regulation, but were unable to break a 2-2 tie after two overtime periods.

The draw is the first of the year for an Aggie team that will continue its league-high nine-match road trip Sunday morning in Orem, Utah, against the Utah Valley Wolverines with a 2-3-1 record. Utah is now 2-1-3 in games played this season.

"Tonight was a great show of character from a team that competed for 110 minutes at altitude," said head coach Maryclaire Robinson following the match. "The team came together and played with heart and energy."

Pressure from the Aggies' front line helped the team score the first goal of the evening seven minutes after the opening whistle.

In an attempt to dictate the pace of play by aggressively attacking Utah's goal from the opening whistle, a misplayed back-tap from a Utes defender to her goalkeeper, Cheyanne Mulcock, allowed the Aggies to jump out to an early 1-0 lead.

The goal, even though Utah officially scored on itself, was the first allowed by the Utes in the opening half this season. All three goals scored by Utah's opponents throughout its five previously played games took place in the second half.

After Utah tied the game nine minutes later, 36 minutes passed until UC Davis regained the lead on redshirt freshman forward Ashley Kawasaki's first-ever goal scored as an Aggie.

In the 52nd minute, off one of seven corner kicks taken by the Aggies throughout the evening, Kawasaki blasted a shot directly in front of Utah's goal, from 20 yards out, that beat Mulcock to give UC Davis the lead once again.

The back-and-forth battle continued as the contest progressed as Utah was able to tie the match, once again, at 2-2, by scoring in the 61st minute.

With neither team able to break the tie during the final 29 minutes of regulation, the game entered overtime. For UC Davis, this was its first overtime session since Oct. 14, 2012, when the Aggies hosted UC Irvine. For Utah, this match was the third out of its previous five games played that needed extra time to determine an official outcome.

Throughout both overtime periods, UC Davis outshot Utah 2-1, with all three combined attempts taking place in the first overtime period.

Added Robinson, "We created dangerous scoring opportunities and defended as a team against a strong Pac-12 opponent playing at home, in a great setting."

Of the 16 shots recorded against Utah throughout all 110 minutes played, senior forward Kiele Argente led all Aggies with four.

Bolstered by her five-save effort in the second half, junior goalkeeper Taylor Jern stopped six Utes shots.

Kickoff for Sunday's game, at Utah Valley, will take place at 10 a.m. (PT). A live stats link for that match is available at ucdavisaggies.com.