Box Score

DAVIS, Calif. - Down 1-0 at halftime in Sunday's Big West Conference match at Aggie Soccer Field, UC Davis took the field and dominated the entire second half from start to finish, but was unable to equalize after giving up the day's lone goal on a penalty kick in the 23rd minute.

UC Davis fell to 4-10-3 overall and 1-3-2 against Big West teams after dropping Sunday's match, 1-0. Long Beach improved to 7-5-5 and 3-1-2 respectively.

"This team followed the game plan... and neutralized Long Beach State throughout the entire second half. I was happy with how we were able to keep the action in their 18 (-yard area),"said Kaufman following the game.

"Everyone who stepped on the field made a positive contribution, kept the team organized, never stopped battling and created scoring opportunities."

Even though the 49ers recorded all but two of their 12 shots in the first half, the Aggies were able to contain Long Beach's offense throughout the opening half. Outside of an early header that bounced wide of the far post, the 49ers did not threaten the Aggies for most of the afternoon.

A sea of tangled legs and bodies falling to the ground, within a scrum that settled in front of Aggie goalkeeper Taylor Jern, took place before the 49ers were given their most dangerous scoring chance of the day.

After receiving a penalty kick, Long Beach State made the most of its opportunity by punching in the day's only goal. Even though Jern guessed correctly and dove in the direction of Ashley Gonzales' kick, the ball just eluded the senior's outstretched arms and snuck inside the post.

"I told my team that we have faced so much adversity this season and that we did not deserve to lose this game," said Kaufman regarding her halftime conversation with the team.

Once action resumed after halftime, the Aggies took control of the match and were able to create numerous scoring opportunities that were far more threatening than anything Long Beach State created all day on its own.

On a breakaway scoring opportunity just five minutes into the second half, UC Davis turned a 49er corner kick into a quality counterattack.

Ten minutes later, Kayla Collins created a turnover in Long Beach's third of the pitch and immediately passed to a streaking Lexi Poppoff, who joined the play from the opposite side of the field. Even though Poppoff eluded Long Beach's goalkeeper, who charged towards her in an effort to eliminate any chance of a shooting lane presenting itself, and a 49er defender, she still possessed the balance, and wherewithal to take a shot on an empty goal after a third player failed to wrestle the ball away from her.

Even as she stumbled and fought to maintain her balance, Poppoff was still able to kick the ball towards the 49ers' net, and nearly tied the game were it not for the effort of a straggling 49er who rushed towards her goal, slid and kicked the ball to safety.

Later in the half, Poppoff was turned away by Ashton McKeown on a 2-v-1 scoring opportunity. Even though a 49er defender could not prevent Poppoff from making a run towards the net, it was McKeown who needed to make a highlight-quality save to keep UC Davis off the scoreboard.

Add in Andrea Damian's attempt, which barely missed its intended target when her shot curled just outside the far post, one can see why Kaufman thought her team played "a near perfect second half."

As was the case with McKeown, Jern finished with three saves but fell one unfortunate whistle away from forcing the Aggies' eighth overtime of the season.

UC Davis is island-bound for its next match when women's soccer travels to Honolulu to face the Rainbow Wahine. The only match on UC Davis' upcoming weekly schedule will take place on Friday, Oct. 24, at 10 p.m. (PT)/7 p.m. (HT).