IRVINE, Calif. -- Senior Andy Velasquez got the UC Davis men's soccer team on the board early with a goal just before the 10 minute mark, but UC Irvine found the equalizer near the end of the half and the two Big West Conference rivals battled to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday night at Anteater Stadium.

The result moved the Aggies to 6-7-1 overall on the year and 2-2-1 in league play as they played to overtime for the second time this year and the first since falling in double overtime to then-No. 9 Washington in the regular season opener. It was also the first draw for UC Davis since knotting up UC Santa Barbara by the same score back on Oct. 23, 2019, at home.

In a match that featured 17 combined corners, 27 fouls, and five cards issued, it was Velasquez who got the scoring started in the 10th minute of the match off a pass from teammate Maximilian Arfsten, heading home a low cross at the top of the six for the 1-0 lead.

Velasquez's goal was the fifth of the year for the Ceres, Calif., native, ranking him second on the team behind Arfsten's seven, while Arfsten posted his fourth assist of the year, placing him in a three-way tie for the team lead along with teammates Grant Fidler and Max Glasser.

The goal was also the fourth in the first 10 minutes of a match this season by an Aggie striker as Fidler and Arfsten each scored in the fourth minute of matches against Washington and San Francisco, respectively, while Velasquez scored in the fifth minute against UC Santa Barbara.

The score remained that way until the 36th minute when UC Irvine was able to find the equalizer, as Jake Means volleyed one in off the crossbar to tie the match at one apiece.

From that point on, neither team was able to dent the back of the net as the Anteaters finished with a 16-11, including a 9-4 lead in shots on goal. However,  UC Davis freshman goalkeeper Charles Janssen -- making only his second career start -- was up to the task, finishing with a career-high eight saves on the night in 110 total minutes.

Velasquez finished with five of the team's 11 attempts, putting three on frame, while Arfsten and Connor Tipton added two apiece.

UC Davis returns to the field on Sunday (Oct. 17) for its penultimate home contest of the year, hosting CSUN at 1 p.m. at Aggie Soccer Field.
 

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