Box Score Oct. 8, 2016

Box Score

DAVIS, Calif. -- Kristian Heptner, Miguel Acevedo, and Kyle Higgins, all found the back of the net on Saturday afternoon, and the Aggies' defense did not allow a shot on goal, lifting host UC Davis to a 3-0 victory over visiting Cal State Fullerton at the Aggie Soccer Field.

The Aggies improved to 6-5-2 overall and evened their mark at 2-2 in Big West Conference play with the win over the two-time defending league tournament champions. The Titans, who were shutout at Sacramento State on Thursday, fell to 5-8 overall and 1-3 in conference play.

Saturday marked the third time this season -- and the second time in the team's last three matches -- that UC Davis has scored three goals in a game, including a pair in the second half just 26 seconds apart that broke open the match. The Aggies also reached three goals in one-goal victories at CSU Bakersfield on Sept. 15 and UC Irvine on Oct. 1.

UC Davis, which outshot Fullerton by a 16-6 count, got on the board first in the 24th minute as junior Greg Salazar played a long ball up for sophomore Kristian Heptner, who settled near the top of the box, turned, and fired a left-footed shot to the left post past goalkeeper Paul-Andre Guerin for the 1-0 lead.

It was Heptner's fourth goal of the season, which moved him into a tie with teammate Noah Wilson for the team lead in that category.

The Titans nearly tied it up with only two minutes remaining in the period as Oscar Flores found some space at the top of the box and unleashed a rocket that rang off the crossbar and bounced straight down -- but not in -- to keep Fullerton off the board.

Holding that lead through the break and quickly added back-to-back scores midway through the second half. Junior Miguel Acevedo tallied his first of the year at the 71:21 mark, as Lizandro Torres found his teammate at the top of the box from deep near the touchline, and Acevedo lopped a one-timer to the right post to make it 2-0.

Barely giving the fans time to revel in that score, the Aggies made it 3-0 at the 71:47 mark, as senior Dashiell MacNamara sent a low pass to Higgins, who deftly flicked it past the goalkeeper at the right near post for his third goal of the season.

Senior goalkeeper Armando Quezada did not have to make a save in recording his 5th shutout of the season and the 12th of his career, moving him past Ryan McCowan (2007-10) and into sole possession of second place on the school's all-time list. Only Omar Zeenni, the 2013 Big West Goalkeeper of the Year, has more, holding the career mark with 18.

Wilson led all Aggies with three shots on the day as 10 different UC Davis players recorded at least one shot. Nicolo D'Amato led the Titans with three of his team's six attempts.

The Aggies open play against the North Division rivals on the road next week, traveling to San Luis Obispo, Calif., to take on Cal Poly on Wednesday (Oct. 12) at 7 p.m., before returning to Northern California to take on Sacramento State on Saturday (Oct. 15) at 4 p.m. at Hornet Field.