Northridge, Calif. — Ethan Hoard got the action going early for UC Davis scoring a goal just nine minutes into the game to give the Aggies a 1-0 lead. After a beautifully placed through ball from Zack Lillington found Max Glasser, the All-Conference Second Teamer crossed the ball into the middle of the box and after bouncing off a flurry of players, Hoard was able to strike one home and find the back of the net after bouncing off a CSUN defender. Even after jumping out to a hot start, the Aggies would ultimately be held off by the No. 4 seed Matadors, eliminating the No. 5 Aggies by a score of 3-2.

With the early 1-0 lead for most of the first half, the Matadors would respond with five minutes remaining in the first half and tie to score up at one a piece after a Jamar Ricketts assist set up fellow Matador Edson Palos leading to a breakaway goal.

Carrying the tie into the half, it was the hosting Matadors who gained control and made the most of their home field advantage during the second half where two quick goals from CSUN's Jack Rhead and Jamar Ricketts would give CSUN a comfortable 3-1 advantage.

The Matadors would control the majority of the second half until Zachary Batchelder beat the CSUN keeper with less than four minutes remaining in regulation to give him his first goal of the season. While the late surge gave the Aggies some hope and brought the difference to just one goal, time proved to be their biggest nemesis as the Aggies would lose by one goal, 3-2. CSUN improves to 9-5-4 and has a date with No. 1 seed UC Santa Barbara on Nov. 5.

Coming into this game the Aggies hadn't lost a match when scoring the first goal in 2022 and were victorious in their last four outings against CSUN.  This is the first loss for UC Davis in the first round of the Big West Championship since 2014.

UC Davis wraps up the 2022 season with an overall record of 5-9-4 record while posting a 4-3-2 record in Big West play. UC Davis will be losing the veteran leadership of Andy Velasquez, Max Glasser and Emmanuel Doherty but will return the likes of Zack Lillington, Ryan Dieter, and the Goodman brothers.

UC Davis Men's Soccer Twitter
UC Davis Men's Soccer Instagram