Box Score Oct. 26, 2016

Box Score

DAVIS, Calif. -- UC Davis junior Noah Wilson netted his fifth goal of the season to give his side an early first-half lead, but visiting Cal Poly would equalize late and score in the first minute of overtime on Wednesday afternoon to hand the Aggies a, 2-1, defeat at the Aggie Soccer Field.

The loss was the third straight defeat for UC Davis, which fell to 7-9-2 overall and 3-6 in Big West Conference play. Two of the last three defeats for the Aggies have come in overtime while all six defeats in league play have been by identical 2-1 scores.

The Mustangs improved to 4-9-3 overall and 2-5-2 in conference play thanks to Wednesday's victory, with both league wins this season coming against UC Davis.

Wilson got the Aggies on the board midway through the opening half as a ball played into Cal Poly's defensive third could not be cleared and, instead, was headed on to a streaking Steven Guzman down the left side. The senior took a touch and chipped a short cross to the near post to the head of Wilson, who skied and headed it home on the left side for the 1-0 lead.

Wednesday's goal gave Wilson a point in two of the team's last three games and was his fifth of the year, matching teammates Kyle Higgins and Kristian Heptner for the team lead. It was also Wilson's first goal since a three-point performance at UC Irvine on Oct. 1, while Guzman notched his first assist of the year and collected a point for the second straight match after scoring a goal against Sacramento State on Oct. 22.

Cal Poly's offense put the UC Davis defense to the test in the second half, out-shooting the Aggies, 7-2, in the period before striking for the equalizer in the 79th minute. A corner kick by Joseph Bolous was headed home at the left post by Tony Scimeca for the latter's first career goal and set the stage for overtime.

The Mustangs didn't waste any time in collecting the game-winner in the overtime, finding the back of the net just 44 seconds in to end the match. A ball that could not be cleared by the defense landed at the feet of Adam Olsen, who sent a cross to the left side of the box to start the play. There, Kody Wakasa out-jumped his defender and got his head on the ball, pushing it through from the left side for his second goal of the season and the game-winner.

Cal Poly finished with a 15-8 advantage in the shot column led by three from Scimeca, and a 7-6 lead in corners, taking all five corners after halftime after the Aggies took six of the first eight in the opening period. Wilson and Greg Salazar finished with two shots apiece to lead UC Davis.

The Aggies close out the regular season on the road this weekend, traveling down the coast to take on UC Santa Barbara on Sunday (Oct. 30) at 2 p.m. at Harder Stadium. UC Davis leads Cal Poly by one point in the standings for the final playoff spot in the North Division, as the Mustangs take on Sacramento State on Saturday at 7 p.m., in their regular season finale.