Box Score

DAVIS, Calif. -- UC Davis junior defender Chase Rhode flicked home a header off a long throw in from teammate Greg Salazar five minutes into the extra period, completing a comeback from a goal down and helping lift the Aggies to a 2-1 overtime win over visiting Saint Mary's to open the 2016 Copa de Causeway on Thursday afternoon at the Aggie Soccer Field.

The victory was the third straight for UC Davis, which improved to 4-2-2 overall on the year, and remained unbeaten in overtime this season, moving to 1-0-2 in such contests. The Gaels fell to 2-5-2 overall on the year with the loss.

Thursday saw the two teams score just two minutes apart midway through the second half to set the stage for overtime, where the Aggies had the only two chances and cashed in on the second. Salazar launched a long throw from the left side that found its way through the defense and onto the head of Rhode, who redirected it into the right side of an open net in the 95th minute for the win.

It was Rhode's first collegiate goal after being held off the scoresheet in his two seasons at Wake Forest prior to his arrival at UC Davis, and the third assist of Salazar's career.

It completed a comeback for the Aggies after Saint Mary's took the lead with the first score of the game in the 65th minute. Kai Howe, who had recently entered the game, gathered the ball on a run down the right side and centered a perfect pass to teammate Erik Lyons, who volleyed a one-timer into the right side of the net for his second goal of the season and a 1-0 lead.

Just over two minutes later, the Aggies were awarded a penalty kick following a foul in the box on a free kick, sending junior Noah Wilson to the spot for the attempt. The Petaluma, Calif., native kept his team's perfect record from the spot intact as he caught goalkeeper Remi Prieur diving the wrong way, slotting home the attempt to the left side to tie the match at 1-1 in the 67th minute.

The flurry came after a near own goal in favor of the Gaels in the 50th minute as a ball in a crowd inside the six-yard box was nearly poked home by a defender, and an ensuing header was blocked away from danger.

The Aggies, who held a 15-8 advantage in shots, also had a pair of solid chances in the opening half as Matt Baringer had a ball cleared off the line by a Saint Mary's defender in the 15th minute, and Lizandro Torres rang a shot off the right post with a rocket from 25 yards as time expired to keep the two teams scoreless after 45 minutes.

Baringer led all players with five shots on the day, while Wilson added three more in the win. Jakub Svehilk and Max Mirner each had a pair for the Gaels.

The Aggies return to the field on Saturday (Sept. 24), hosting nationally ranked Utah Valley at 3 p.m. The Wolverines, ranked as high as No. 15 in one national poll, fell to Sacramento State, 3-2, on Thursday in the first match of the tournament.