Davis, Calif. - UC Davis returned to Aggie Field Hockey Facility for the first time in over a month on Tuesday morning, putting up 16 shots to down Central Michigan 1-0.
The win moves the Aggies back above .500 for the season at 6-5 in their final tuneup before America East play begins on Oct. 18 at Cal.
"We've been playing very, very well," Head Coach Britt Broady said. "It's always a challenge to play three games in four days and this is the third time in our season we've had to do that. I'm really pleased with our fitness and how we attacked no matter what."
Behind a defensive unit that has only gotten stronger as the season has progressed, the Aggies held Central Michigan to one shot on Tuesday and rarely let the Chippewas receive any meaningful possession time.
Scoreless at the half but outshooting Central Michigan 9-0, the Aggies finally struck pay dirt thanks to senior Lauren Gengarella's shot from the left side at the 6:32 mark of the third period.
"I just knew that we needed to score," Gengarella said. "It was getting down to crunch time, I just took the space and took the shot when I needed to because when it comes down to it, you've got to put the ball in the net."
So dominant was the Aggies' defense on Tuesday that senior goalkeeper Chelsea Bigelow went largely untested until the Chippewas went with an empty net in the final minutes of regulation.
Helping key that strong defense has been the return of Sara Janetzky, who missed time last season but has returned at full strength in 2019.
"We have a really solid back line," Janetzky explained, also pointing to the return of Farah Farjood this season. "Chelsea (Bigelow) does a great job in goal and just the cohesiveness between us is really what helps us defend solidly."
Tuesday's contest marked the third game in four days for the Aggies as the team was just a day removed from a weekend trip to Iowa City, Iowa that saw them play No. 16 Rutgers and No. 6 Iowa on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Those Saturday and Sunday games were the third time this season the Aggies have played back-to-back sets.
"Everything for us is preparation for the America East games and trying to end up in the top two," Broady said. "All of this is preparation, all of it is building and getting better each game and that's what we've been doing each game. I'm really pleased that we've continued to take steps forward in our performance."
The 2019 Aggies have now matched last season's total wins with six games still remaining on the schedule. They are now tied with 2013, 2014 and 2018 seasons for the third most wins in a single season in school history.
UC Davis will play the first of four America East West Division games on Oct. 18 when they travel to Berkeley to face Cal at 6 p.m. PST.
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.
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 women's 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. Visit https://give.ucdavis.edu/ATHG/324041 for more information.
