Feb. 14, 2015

Tournament Central

DAVIS, Calif. -

Senior goalkeeper Jillian Wilding posted eight of her 11 total saves in the second half of a 10-7 upset of 11th-ranked UC San Diego, then sophomore Addie Green scored a career-high four goals in a 14-7 victory over Azusa Pacific, highlighting No. 16 UC Davis in its own Davis Challenge women's water polo tournament at Schaal Aquatics Center Saturday.

The Aggies even their record to 6-6.

Sophomores Bryn Lutz and Carla Tocchini and junior Allyson Hansen each netted two goals in the win over the Tritons. Hannah Harvey, Ariel Arcidiacono, Paige Virgil and Greta Kohlmoos had one tally apiece. UC Davis took a 3-1 lead in the first quarter, fell to a 4-3 deficit in the second, then went on a 6-1 run that put the Aggies to a 9-5 edge midway through the third.

Hansen jumpstarted UC Davis to its early advantage, drawing first blood on a back-hander just two minutes into the contest. She then drew an exclusion, then assisted Lutz on the power-play goal to make it 2-0 at the 4:18 mark. Harvey later scored on a bar-in goal from about four meters out to keep the Aggies up by a 3-1 lead with 1:11 left in the first quarter. However, the Tritons' senior All-American Jolene Guiliana assisted on a goal to close the first frame then scored the 3-3 equalizer to begin the second, before a five-meter penalty handed UCSD its 4-3 lead at 6:45.

Lutz assisted Arcidiacono a minute later then converted another 6-on-5 chance with 3:21 to restore the Aggie lead to 5-4. Tocchini and Guiliana traded goals to keep the margin at one going into the halftime break. However, UC Davis gained some separation on two quick goals in the third. Houston assisted Tocchini at the 1 spot for a goal with five minutes left, then assisted Virgil from the same location 30 seconds later after a key Kohlmoos steal on the UCSD end. Virgil later entered to Kohlmoos at two meters for a goal at the 3:23 mark, extending the Aggie edge to 9-5.

The UC Davis defense held off the Tritons the rest of the way. Guiliana scored her third goal to bring UCSD to within two early in the fourth, but Wilding had six saves in the fourth while Lutz posted field blocks on two opposing power-play situations in the final nine minutes.

Saturday's opener marks the third time UC Davis has defeated a higher-ranked team in 2015, along with a February 1 win over Indiana and a Feb. 7 victory against Loyola Marymount.

Green, who had one career goal entering Saturday, scored two goals in the second, completed her hat trick the Aggies' only goal in the third, then tacked on a fourth goal in the final stanza by finishing one of many Aggie counterattacks. Redshirt freshmen Meghan Nevarez and Sammy Preston also notched their first collegiate goals in the win.

UC Davis stormed to a 7-1 lead through the first quarter, then extended its edge to 8-1 on Preston's 6-on-5 conversion halfway through the second. The Aggies held a 10-2 lead at halftime thanks to 10-for-17 shooting. The Cougars were 2-for-7 at the same stage, having scored on a five-meter penalty and a 6-on-5.

Junior Haley Cameron and sophomore Olivia Husted also earned some playing time in front of the cage for UC Davis. Cameron recorded five saves in less than 12 minutes at goalie. Husted relieved Cameron midway through the third, subsequently blocking a Robyn Fernandez penalty shot at the end of that quarter.

The Aggies return to action on February 21 as the 13th seed of the UCI Invitational. They open with California at 10:30 a.m., then will take on either Michigan or the host Anteaters in their Saturday nightcap.

2015 DAVIS CHALLENGE, DAY 2
Schaal Aquatics Center • UC Davis games only.

No. 11 UC San Diego	2	3	1	1	-	7
No. 16 UC Davis	3	3	3	1	-	10

GOALS - UCSD: Jolene Guiliana 3, Lauren Boyer 2, Julia Kirkland 1, Kayla Fedler 1. UC Davis: Bryn Lutz 2, Carla Tocchini 2, Allyson Hansen 2, Hannah Harvey 1, Ariel Arcidiacono 1, Paige Virgil 1, Greta Kohlmoos 1.

GOALIE SAVES - UCSD: Courtney Miller 8 (32:00). UC Davis: Jillian Wilding 11 (32:00).

Azusa Pacific	1	1	1	4	-	7
No. 16 UC Davis	7	3	1	3	-	14

GOALS - APU: Ashley Taylor 2, Alba Espinar 2, Maryann Slama 1, Morgan Hage 1, Taylor Whitney 1. UC Davis: Addie Green 4, Keelia Houston 2, Sammi Murphy 2, Allyson Hansen 1, Carla Tocchini 1, Courtney Weddle 1, Greta Kohlmoos 1, Sammy Preston 1, Meghan Nevarez 1.

GOALIE SAVES - APU: Erica Marquez 9 (32:00). UC Davis: Jillian Wilding 0 (8:00), Haley Cameron 5 (11:32), Olivia Husted 2 (12:28).