DAVIS, Calif. — Grant Fidler's goal in the 55th minute on Thursday night proved to be the difference in the UC Davis men's soccer team's first action of the 2018 campaign, helping lift the host Aggies to a 1-0 victory over visiting Pacific at Aggie Soccer Field.
The exhibition was the first of two for the Aggies, who host Chico State in their final tune-up on Sunday (Aug. 19) at 1 p.m. in the first match of a doubleheader with the women's team. Admission to the men's game is free.
After both teams muscled out four shots apiece in a scoreless first half, it was UC Davis that broke the scoreless deadlock just over nine minutes into the second period. Redshirt freshman
Robert Mejia — a neurobiology, physiology, and behavior major who was one of nine student-athletes making their Aggie debuts on Thursday — made a run and lofted a perfect cross to a waiting Fidler on the right side.
The chemical engineering major settled and tucked a shot back across the goal under a diving Tigers goalkeeper for the only score of the match.
Junior global disease biology major
Wallis Lapsley made three saves in just over 72 minutes before giving way to senior teammate, and managerial economics major,
Jon Laughlin, who preserved the shutout. Senior managerial economics major
Roy Boateng, the reigning Big West Conference Defensive Player of the Year, even got into the act, denying the tying goal by saving a shot off the line by Jose Sosa that found its way through traffic in the 83rd minute.
In all, redshirts
Kyle Marcotte, Mejia, Fidler, and
Andy Velasquez, were joined by true freshmen
Nick Hyde,
Max Glasser,
Emmanuel Doherty, and
Connor Tipton, as well as Oregon State transfer
Sean Cooper, on the field for their first appearances in a UC Davis uniform.
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.
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.
