DAVIS, Calif. – Ana Williams tied Thursday's Big West home opener at Aggie Soccer Field with a brilliant toe-poke goal in the 36th minute, and
Nicki Rucki made some outstanding saves to preserve a 1-1 tie for UC Davis, until an unlucky play allowed UC Santa Barbara to break through in the 84th minute and record a 2-1 victory.
Women's soccer will return to Aggie Soccer Field on Sunday with a 5-8 overall and 0-3 Big West record. The Gauchos improved to 6-3-3 and 2-0 with their result.
Even though UCSB scored in the 14th minute, the Aggies remained poised and responded with a goal of their own in the 36th minute, thanks to a heads-up play from Williams, who beat two defenders to a loose ball that was punched inside the near post from the opposite side of the goal.
William's strike took place shortly after
Hailey Rittershofer nearly scored the Aggies' first goal of the day. After eluding a pair of defenders, Rittershofer's attempt was redirected at the last moment by a diving goalkeeper, which preserved the Gauchos's slim lead... for the time being.
That play was a snapshot of the action that took place throughout the entire afternoon: One impressive play followed another in a match that thoroughly entertained an energetic crowd at Aggie Soccer Field.
It was UC Davis that nearly took the lead midway through the second half when
Courtney Van Winkle was stopped right in front of the goal following
Casey Palmer's initial attempt.
After weaving her way around the Gauchos' back line, Palmer turned and fired towards the goal. Moments later, Van Winkle's rebound nearly snapped that 1-1 tie when she tried to redirect her teammate's attempt. If UCSB goalkeeper Hanna DeWeese was not in the right spot, at the right time, Van Winkle would have given the Aggies their first lead of the game.
On the opposite end of the field,
Nicki Rucki came up with clutch stops, on numerous UCSB scoring opportunities, from the start of the game until the final horn sounded. When the Gauchos tried to score on a counterattack, she made the correct play every time: she knew when to attack the ball and clear it to safety, or stand her ground to protect the goal.
Numerous UCSB corner kicks ended with Rucki punching the ball to safety, which frustrated the Gauchos since she singlehandedly ended numerous set-play opportunities.
It was an attempt to clear the ball from the Aggies' third of the field that became the decisive play of the game, because the Gauchos created a quick counterattack off that play, which ultimately led to the game-winning goal.
The Aggies will end their weekend homestand on Sunday against Cal Poly, kickoff at Aggie Soccer Field is set for 2 p.m.
AGGIE EVO
Established during the 2017-18 academic year, 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.
MARYA WELCH INITIATIVE
Named after the former physical education instructor, coach and Dean of Women who founded women's sports on the campus 25 years before the passage of Title IX, the Marya Welch Initiative for Women's Athletics provides comprehensive support for UC Davis' 16 athletics programs.
Through the support of the Marya Welch Initiative and its group members, student-athletes are provided the best possible opportunity to succeed inside the classroom, and in competition, through special project gifts and by increasing visibility and participation at women's events throughout the year.
All gifts to the Marya Welch Initiative are matched 1:1, doubling the impact on our women's programs.
To learn more about Marya Welch Initiative projects, like this group on
Facebook, or join this groundbreaking program by
clicking here, contacting Assistant AD for Leadership Giving and Alumni Engagement
Liz Martin at (530) 752-7326 or
emartin@ucdavis.edu.
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, 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.
