Box Score

DAVIS, Calif. - Kelley Kramer sent the home crowd into a frenzy by scoring the game-tying goal, with 3:11 seconds remaining in regulation, in Friday's America East Conference match at Aggie Field Hockey Facility. But a last-ditch scoring opportunity from Pacific, which came to fruition with eight seconds left in the game, lifted the Tigers to a 3-2 win.

UC Davis will return to action next Friday at Stanford and enter that match with a 4-10 overall and 0-3 America East record. Pacific, a team the Aggies will face again on Oct. 23, in Stockton, will continue its season with a 10-4 and 1-1 record.

Down by one goal, UC Davis took a calculated risk by pulling its goalkeeper with just under five minutes left in the match. The Aggies were soon rewarded for their decision since the Tigers were unable to handle the extra attacker. Once the kicking back took the field, UC Davis generated a counterattack shortly thereafter. By swiftly moving down the turf, a Tiger back ended up tripping an Aggie in the scoring circle, which forced the officials to award a penalty stroke to UC Davis.

It was from this spot where Kramer notched her second career goal, a shot that Tiger goalkeeper Laura Pujade had no chance in stopping, even though she guessed correctly by diving in the directions of the sophomore forward's attempt.

"We took a big risk by putting the kicking back in, and made something happen by drawing a penalty stroke and scoring. That gave us a nice momentum boost," said UC Davis head coach Chrissy Kilroe.

In addition to Kramer and Agustina Singh, who opened the day's scoring by recording her fifth goal of the season on a redirected pass from Lauren Gengarella in the 22nd minute, UC Davis goalkeeper Beth Lee kept the Aggies in the match the entire afternoon by thanks to a career-best performance.

By ending the day with 13 saves, Lee set a new career high and is responsible for the fourth-highest single-game total in program history.

On the goals she did allow, there was not much that she could do since various elements were out of her control. On Pacific's first strike, scored on the last of four straight penalty corners after time ran out in the first half, Lee hugged the far post on Marguerite van Wyk's shot, giving her zero free space to sneak the ball into the cage. Van Wyk's shot did hit the post, and ricocheted back into play towards the opposite side of the field. By hovering alongside the near post on the play, Alicia Muinos punched in her teammate's rebound and evened the score at one apiece.

Lee placed herself in perfect position on Pacific's last two goals, shots that only beat her thanks to last-second redirects that took place just a couple meters in front of the cage.

"Even though we had momentum (after tying the score), it just takes a second to score a goal. And that's what Pacific did to regain its lead. That momentum shift took place in an instant."

Added Kilroe, "There was some great things that we did, I am so proud of this team. We can compete against strong teams like Stanford and Pacific. The players have been working hard this entire season and know that we can beat these teams, not just hang with them."

UC Davis will quickly have it chance to avenge tough results suffered against both West Division foes since the next two team's on the Aggies' schedule are on the road against the Cardinal and Tigers.