April 21, 2018

DAVIS, Calif. - Sophomore attacker Amanda Outcalt scored five goals and assisted on two more, while junior Taylor Cuenin and sophomore Sorana Larson each chipped in four goals, helping UC Davis to a 23-12 win over Fresno State in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation women's lacrosse action at Aggie Stadium Saturday night.

The victory improves the Aggies' overall record to 8-5, and finishes the team's conference season with a perfect 2-0 record. That secures a bye through the MPSF semifinal into the title game, held at San Diego State on Sunday, April 29. The Bulldogs slip to 9-8 for the year and 1-1 in conference.

Cuenin shot 4-for-4 with an assist, with Larson contributing four goals. Sophomore Kate Graham also had a hat trick, while junior Shannon Cross leading all players with four assists to go with her one goal. UC Davis also dominated on the draw circle, 24-13, with senior Shannon Geary picking up a career-high 10 draw controls.

Saturday's game, held on the campus's annual Picnic Day open house, also served as a tribute to eight senior student-athletes. Geary, Kate Fellner, Kelsey DeJesus, Kelly Chuck, Courtney Humphrey, Carolina Tweedy, Rachel Brennan and Erica Ely were honored during pregame festivities. Each of the six active seniors contributed on the boxscore in some form: Geary had an assist to go with her draw controls, DeJesus netted two goals, Fellner had a goal and two assists, Chuck tallied her first assist of the year, Humphrey earned a caused turnover in the final minutes, while Tweedy scored her first goal of 2018 on the game's final tally.

Sophomore midfielder Marina Mayo led the 'Dogs with three goals and an assist.

The 23-goal output also stands as the most by an Aggie team since the 2012 season, when UC Davis dispatched LIU and Saint Mary's by identical 24-10 outcomes on March 11 and April 24, respectively.

UC Davis never trailed in the contest, scoring the game's first goal within 41 seconds after the initial draw, and holding leads of 3-1, 5-2 and 8-3 early on. Fresno State managed to rally to a two-goal margin, thanks to a 4-1 run that reduced the Aggie lead to 9-7.

UC Davis led 11-7 at the half and made it 12-7 in similar fashion as the first quarter: a Graham goal in the opening minute. Again, the Bulldogs answered with three unanswered to cut the deficit to 12-10 by the 35th minute. Freshman Mar Alvear won the ensuing draw, then Cuenin drove in hard for hat trick goal with 25:25 on the clock. That ignited what eventually became an 11-2 outbreak for the Aggies for the rest of the contest.

Ultimately, the game largely hinged on the draw. Fresno State committed only 11 turnovers in the game to its host's 16, and shot a solid .461. However, the Aggies' winning 24 draws – with six to Alvear, four to Maddie Myers and three to DeJesus – kept the majority of possession on the attacking end. Meanwhile, freshman Ally Deremer led the UC Davis back line with three caused turnovers and two ground balls.

Next weekend's tournament marks the first time in the conference's 15-year history that UC Davis will compete in the title game. The Aggies previously reached the MPSF semifinal round in 2005, 2009 and 2010. What is now a three-team conference began as a five-team alliance in 2004, then swelled to as many as 10 members from 2014 through 2016.

Fresno State (9-8, 1-1 MPSF)	7	5	-	12
UC Davis (8-5, 2-0 MPSF)	11	12	-	23

GOALS - FSU: Marina Mayo 3, Kayla Galet 2, Megan Walaitis 2, Tiffiny Wallace 1, Mackenzie Wallevand 1, Lauren Kiszely 1, Hannah Krats 1, Lauren Gonzalez 1. UC DAVIS: Amanda Outcalt 5, Taylor Cuenin 4, Sorana Larson 4, Kate Graham 3, Kelsey DeJesus 2, Mar Alvear 2, Shannon Cross 1, Kate Fellner 1, Carolina Tweedy 1.

ASSISTS - FSU: Marina Mayo 1, Tiffiny Wallace 1. UC DAVIS: Shannon Cross 4, Kate Fellner 2, Amanda Outcalt 2, Kelly Chuck 1, Taylor Cuenin 1, Ally Deremer 1, Shannon Geary 1, Anna Hofgard 1.

GOALIE SAVES - FSU: Laurel Maunder 8 (60:00). UC DAVIS: Grace Richards 8 (60:00).
 

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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. 6-ranked public university in the nation according to the Wall Street Journal, 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.

DON'T MISS OUT!: Season and single-game tickets for all UC Davis spring sports, plus renewals for Aggie football, are now on sale by contacting the Athletics Ticket Office at (530) 752-AGS1 or by visiting us online at UCDavisAggies.com.