DAVIS, Calif. — The fourth-fastest goal in the program's Division I history set the stage for an epic performance from the UC Davis men's soccer team, which bookended the first half with a pair of goals to pick up three key points in the Big West Conference standings, defeating visiting Cal State Fullerton by a 2-1 score on a "Senior Day" Saturday afternoon at Aggie Soccer Field.

The Aggies, who avenged a penalty kick loss to the Titans in last year's Big West Tournament championship match, improved to 9-4-3 overall and 2-3-1 in league play. Fullerton fell to 6-5-6 overall and 2-3-1 in conference with the defeat, joining UC Davis in a four-way tie for third as of press time with seven points.

Wasting little time in getting on the board first, the Aggies scored just 54 seconds into Saturday's contest as freshman managerial economics major Andy Velasquez gave his team a 1-0 lead with his third goal of the season.

Senior political science major Justin Wright took a touch inside the 18 and whipped a ball in from the right side to the back post, where Velasquez out-jumped his defender and knocked in a header off the hands of the Titan goalkeeper and into the left-side netting.

The goal was the fourth scored in under a minute in the program's Division I history and was the quickest since Matt Wiesenfarth scored just 52 seconds into a match against UC Riverside on Oct. 1, 2011. The school's Division I record for the fastest goal to start a match is 10 seconds held by Lance Patterson against Sacramento State on Sept. 10, 2010.

Wright, meanwhile, posted a point for the fifth time in the team's last seven matches, while Velasquez scored for the first time since a 3-1 win over Santa Clara on Sept. 15.

Cal State Fullerton equalized in the 17th minute on Samuel Goni's sixth score of the season, taking a pass from teammate Robert Coronado, spinning at the top of the box, and launching a rocket from close range that spun in off the hands of the Aggies' keeper to make it a 1-1 contest.

The score stayed that way until the closing minutes of the first half when freshman neurobiology, physiology, and behavior major Robert Mejia gave his team the lead for good. Freshman chemical engineering major Grant Fidler sent a ball across the top of the box that was chested down by sophomore managerial economics major Jacob Rudolph.

Rudolph's ball fell right to the feet of Mejia, who was quick to launch a right-footed screamer to the right post for the eventual game-winner. It was the third goal of the season — and the second game-winner — for Mejia, who moved into second place on the team in scoring with 10 points on the year.

Fidler collected his first point of the year with his assist, while Rudolph notched his second assist of the season to go with his goal at Gonzaga on Sept. 7.

A relatively quiet second half saw both goalkeepers tested early in the period as Fullerton's Paul-Andre Guerin stopped a shot by Wright, and the Aggies' Wallis Lapsley turned away both Christian Pinzon and Zico Bailey two minutes apart to preserve the lead.

Velasquez had a golden chance to add his second of the day in the 72nd minute as he had a shot inside the 18 blocked by the defense before putting the loose rebound high, while freshman cognitive science major Kyle Marcotte and freshman biological sciences major Max Glasser had attempts a minute apart in the final 10 minutes.

Lapsley finished with five saves en route to the win, giving him 65 for the year and closing him to within four of Omar Zeenni's single-season Division I program record set in 2012.

Both teams put six shots on frame, with UC Davis holding a 15-11 shot advantage for the match. Velasquez finished with three of those attempts as 11 different Aggie players finished with shots.

UC Davis closes out the regular season with a chance to secure their spot in the Big West Tournament for the eighth consecutive season next Saturday (Oct. 27) at 2 p.m., traveling across the Causeway to take on rival Sacramento State.

In a non-conference clash earlier this year, the Aggies stung the Hornets in overtime back on Sept. 29 by the score of 2-1, getting a pair of goals from Wright — including the game-winner in the 98th minute.

Cal State Fullerton (6-5-6, 2-3-1 BWC) vs. UC Davis (9-4-3, 2-3-1 BWC)
Date: Oct 20, 2018  Attendance: 634
Weather: clear, sunny, mid-80s

Goals by period              1  2  Tot
--------------------------------------------
Cal State Fullerton…….  1  0 -  1
UC Davis.......................  2  0 -  2

SCORING SUMMARY:
1.   0:54 UCD Velasquez, Andy (3) (Wright, Justin) - cross from 35 yards on the right, headed in at left post
2.  16:34 CSF Goni, Samuel (6) (Coronado, Robert) - spin at top of box, rocket shot that spins off GK hands and in
3.  43:38 UCD Mejia, Robert (3) (Fidler, Grant;Rudolph, Jacob) - cross to top, settle & touch to #7, rocket from left to right

Shots: Cal State Fullerton 11, UC Davis 15
Saves: Cal State Fullerton 4 (Guerin, Paul-Andre 4), UC Davis 5 (Lapsley, Wallis 5)

ABOUT UC DAVIS
Providing a small-town community feel while providing a world-class academic experience, UC Davis is home to more than 37,000 students and centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley. The No. 5-ranked public university in the nation according to the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education, and among the top 10 public universities nationwide according to U.S. News and World Report, UC Davis offers nearly 100 graduate programs and more than 100 academic majors across four colleges and six professional schools, ranking among the world and nation's best in numerous disciplines, including veterinary science, agriculture, and plant and animal programs.

AGGIE EVO
Launched in 2017-18, the Aggie EVO System is UC Davis Athletics' investment in the primary mission of preparing student-athletes for a successful "launch" after graduation. Thanks to a collaboration of alumni, university resources, corporate partners, coaches and Student-Athlete Outcomes staff, all Aggies are guided over four years to acquire the skills, knowledge, opportunities and tools to better know and navigate the "World of Work" after graduating from UC Davis. Follow the Aggie EVO system on Twitter and Instagram at @AggieEVO.