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DURHAM, N.H. — For 58 minutes and 57 seconds of Sunday's America East opener in Durham, N.H., UC Davis went toe-to-toe against the 18th-ranked team in the nation, but it was a goal scored with 1:03 left in the game that helped host New Hampshire escape with a 2-0 victory over UC Davis in the first of three consecutive games scheduled throughout its inaugural East Coast trip of the season.
 
The Aggies will now head to UMass Lowell for Tuesday's 11:30 a.m. PT / 2:30 p.m. ET league matchup at 1-2 overall and 0-1 against conference teams. New Hampshire will continue its season at 4-2 and 1-1.
 
"The team came out very strong today. Our press and counterattack was the best we have seen yet this season. If one word could describe our defensive line today it would be composed. Their composure allowed us to create a sustained attack from the back field to the forward line," said Brooke Sanchez.
 
UC Davis nearly scored the first goal of the afternoon six minutes after action started when the Wildcats' Rosalie Post thwarted Sanchez' first shot of the day. Even though Sanchez beat UNH goalkeeper Jemma Woods, Post redirected the shot to safety, recorded a defensive save on the play and preserved a scoreless tie.
 
New Hampshire caught a break in the waning minutes of the first half by scoring the game's first goal with 41 seconds remaining until halftime. Even with that break, UC Davis' defense gave the Wildcats fits throughout the second half, and nearly scored its first goal with 54 second left in the third quarter when Siena Dwyer's attempt was saved at the last moment.
 
Twenty-one seconds into the fourth quarter, Madison Theodore nearly pulled the Aggies even at one apiece with her attempt, which tested Woods, as did another strike by Shea Gavin that was redirected back into play a few minutes later. 
 
New Hampshire, which entered this contest ranked No. 18 in the country, was kept on its heels throughout the entire second half as a swarming Aggie attack nearly paid off with the equalizer on multiple occasions. Only when the Wildcats doubled their one-goal lead with 63 seconds left to play, could they exhale and escape with a win in the second all-time meeting between the teams.
 
All six of UC Davis' shots were on goal; In addition to Gavin and Dwyer, who each recorded one attempt, Theodore and Sanchez each led the team with two shots.
 
Said Sanchez: "Field hockey is a very unforgiving game. Even though our effort and passion was there, going forward we will do a better job at capitalizing on our attack."  
 
 
 
 
ABOUT UC DAVIS
Over 700 student-athletes across 25 intercollegiate athletics teams, following the addition of equestrian and women's beach volleyball in 2018, are enrolled in 71 of more than 100 academic programs at the fifth-ranked public school in the nation.
 
Centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe and the Napa Valley, UC Davis is known nationwide as a leader in Title IX gender equity and leadership, ranks annually in the top 10 in diversity and students' social mobility and offers an unrivaled student-athlete experience that features the ideal combination of elite academics, Division I athletics and personal growth.
 
UC Davis is uncommonly committed to preparing student-athletes for life after graduation with Aggie EVO — an innovative student-athlete outcomes program that helps young women and men develop passions, gain real-world experience, and enjoy a successful launch to full-time employment or graduate school. Through Aggie EVO, Intercollegiate Athletics provides unmatched resources and a vast network of working professionals to ensure post-graduation success for its student-athletes.