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MADISON, Wisc. – Wisconsin entered Friday's non-conference game at McClimon Track/Soccer Complex receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason poll, but it was UC Davis that looked like one of the top teams in the nation when these teams squared off in their respective season openers.
Sophomore forward
Robert Mejia scored the first goal of the year in the 24th minute, sophomore midfielder
Andy Velasquez iced the game when he scored with just over six minutes remaining in the match, and UC Davis' defense did not allow the Badgers to record a shot on goal in a game the Aggies won by a 2-0 result.
UC Davis will head to Marquette for Sunday's 10 a.m. PT/12 p.m. CT match with a 1-0 record, Wisconsin will continue its season-opening homestand at 0-1.
"This team was outstanding today, I thought everyone was well prepared to compete against Wisconsin and its style of play," said head coach
Dwayne Shaffer. "Especially being on the road and facing a tough Power Five team, I am excited for this group this year because we have a lot of quality players on this roster.
"
Nabi Kibunguchy,
Max Glasser and
Sean Cooper, combined with
Wallis Lapsley protected a perfect shutout. Velasquez' play was incredible, that goal was the perfect way to end his night."
Adam Mickelson set up Meja's strike;
Marte Formico and
Sean Bilter were credited with assists on Velasquez' shot, which enabled the Aggies to collect the win in the program's inaugural visit to Madison. Combined with its 3-2 result at home when the Aggies hosted the Badgers in 2015, UC Davis emerged triumphant in both head-to-head matchups.
"We already started the recovery process to prepare ourselves for Marquette on Sunday," added Shaffer. "This is another big game for us, even more so with the quick turnaround since we are playing two tough teams within 36 hours."
As was the case last season, men's soccer opened its season on the road and earned a victory in its inaugural game of the year. In 2018, the Aggies started that campaign with an eight-game unbeaten streak, and would love nothing more than to duplicate that streak this season.
Links for a free video stream and live stats, for Sunday's game against the Golden Eagles, are available at
UCDavisAggies.com.
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.
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.
