Box Score

DAVIS, Calif. -- UC Davis controlled the run of play, outshooting visiting UC Riverside 24-7 for the match and controlling the corners by a 13-2 count, but it was the Highlanders who emerged victorious, turning a pair of second-half strikes into a, 2-1, victory over the Aggies on Thursday afternoon at the Aggie Soccer Field.

UC Davis, which posted a season high in the shot column, had its record evened at 5-5-2 overall on the year while falling to 1-2 in Big West Conference play. Riverside, meanwhile, improved to 7-4-1 with the win, and extended its best-ever league start to 2-0-1 on the season.

"It's disappointing," Head Coach Dwayne Shaffer said. "We should have won that game, but their goalkeeper made some point-blank brilliant saves and we didn't put away one of our 24 shots. We can learn from losses, but we can't dwell on them because it's not going to do us any good. It's time to put this match aside and start preparing for our next match."

The Aggies pressured the Highlander defense from the start, taking eight of the first nine shots of the match, but were stymied in net by UCR goalkeeper Vincent Morales, who made six saves in the first 45 minutes to turn away several UC Davis scoring opportunities -- the first coming in the 17th minute when Kristian Heptner's attempt off a corner by Noah Wilson was stopped point blank with a diving save at the right post.

Off the ensuing corner kick, Evan Barrett had a shot swallowed up off a short corner just inside the 18, and Heptner was denied from 25 yards on a rocket after turning his defender. Matt Baringer's header in the 32nd minute off another corner by Wilson was tipped over the bar, and the sophomore had another saved at the left post in the 41st minute as the teams ended a busy first half scoreless.

UC Davis wasted no time out of the break, picking up right where they left off in the first half. Chase Rhode, who had the game-winner last week against UC Irvine, missed high on a diving header off a cross by Baringer just a minute and a half into the second period, and Justin Wright had a volley knocked away at the right post with a dive by Morales.

The Aggies' best chance to this point came in the 51st minute as a scrum in front of the net nearly produced a goal. Junior Onah Power's initial shot was blocked by a group of defenders huddled inside the six-yard box, but the Highlanders were unable to clear. Baringer and sophomore Roy Boateng both had point-blank attempts stopped by Morales as the ball was eventually punted out.

That's when Riverside was finally able to cash in one of its few opportunities of the match, getting on the board first in the 52nd minute. Ricardo Ruiz tallied his first assist of the match by finding leading scorer Romario Lomeli at the top of the box with a short pass, and the finish went to the right post for his fourth goal of the year and the 1-0 lead.

Just six minutes later, Eduadro Sanchez collected his second score of the season in the 58th minute as Ruiz's free kick in the box was chested down and Sanchez was able to poke it in to the right side of the net for the 2-0 advantage.

Boateng had a chance to break up the shutout in the 61st minute, but his header off a Wilson corner was volleyed off the line by a defender to keep the Aggies off the board.

UC Davis finally broke through with 42 seconds remaining in the match as a long cross to the top of the box by Barrett was forcefully headed to the left post by junior Kyle Higgins, beating Morales for his second goal of the season and make it 2-1. The Aggies' pressed for the equalizer, producing two chances in the final 40 seconds, but could not find the tying goal as time ran out.

Morales finished with nine saves while facing 11 shots on goal for the match from the UC Davis offense, which was led by Baringer, who put four of his five attempts on frame. Sanchez finished with three of the Highlanders' seven shots off the bench.

The Aggies close out play against the South Division on Saturday (Oct. 8) at 1 p.m., hosting two-time defending Big West Tournament champion Cal State Fullerton at Aggie Soccer Field.