Box Score

DAVIS, Calif. - UC Davis and UC Riverside each picked up a point in the Big West Conference standings in Thursday afternoon's league opener after battling to a 0-0, double-overtime draw at Aggie Soccer Field.

The Aggies will enter the final match of their season-long homestand with a 3-7-2 overall and 0-0-1 conference record. UC Riverside, who entered Aggies Soccer Field in second place, will continue its road trip with a 5-3-3 overall and a 0-0-1 Big West mark.

"I thought our backline did a tremendous job today," said UC Davis head coach Twila Kaufman. "Even though everyone worked hard to pick up a win, our defense helped us pick up a valuable point."

After a scoreless first half, the action and intensity picked up after halftime when each team created its most dangerous scoring opportunities of the afternoon.

Eight minutes after returning to the field, UC Davis freshman Kayla Collins nearly scored the first goal of league competition - the Aggies and Highlanders are the first teams to compete in a conference match - on a UC Davis counterattack.

Rushing into the play from the opposite side of the field, Collins lunged after a cross in an attempt to score. By making contact with the ball while still in the air, Collins' shot flew over the crossbar instead of the Highlanders' goal.

Collins and junior Lindsey O'Tousa each led UC Davis with three shots. Combined with Rachel Smith's one shot, an attempt that forced UCR goalkeeper Elizabeth Silas to sprawl to her right to preserve a scoreless tie early in the second half, the trio was responsible for all of their team's attempts.

After the Aggies' tested Silas on two highlight-quality plays, it was UC Davis senior goalkeeper Taylor Jern's turn fire up her team, and all UC Davis fans in attendance, with two head-turning saves.

In the 79th minute, Jern stonewalled Tayler Dragoo by punching away her shot, taken from 10 feet away, to safety. Seven minutes later, she made another momentum changing save by denying Christina Tucker from point-blank range.

On a play that originated from a UCR corner kick, Jern saw Tucker leap over one of her teammates to redirect the ball, on a header, towards the Aggies' net. By following the ball's arc, Jern placed herself in the proper position to prevent the Highlanders from scoring once again.

"All I wanted to do was follow the ball and react accordingly," said Jern following the match regarding her two awe-inducing plays. "There is not enough time to think about where to go, or what to do, I just reacted to each play and wanted to clear the ball to safety."

"When Taylor made those stops, she pumped this team up. Everyone played with more energy.

Thursday's match is a great example of how talented she is," added Kaufman.

In addition to those two plays, Jern collected saves on another four UCR shots to finish with six saves.

That total was enough to boost Jern to third place all-time in the Aggies' record book as the Corona, California, native now sports 208 career saves. Thursday's effort pushed Kelly Parker (1997-00), who previously occupied the No. 3 spot with 205 career saves down one position. Jern now trails Amy Armknecht (1993-96), who currently ranks No. 2 with 223 career saves.

Krista Hull (1991-93) is the Aggies' all-time leader in this statistical category with 323 saves.

"Before our season started, we talked early on about dividing our season into three parts: preseason, conference play and the postseason. The players could not wait to compete today since today's match was the start of our second season," said Kaufman. "We are improving on both sides of the ball each game which helps this team's confidence grow."

Women's soccer will return to Aggie Soccer Field Sunday afternoon to host the Cal State Fullerton Titans. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m.