Bakersfield, Calif. — On a day where Leslie Fregoso became UC Davis' all-time leading goal scorer during the Division I era, the Aggies earned a 2-2 draw against the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners to stay undefeated in Big West play.
Sarah Canavan was the bright spot in the early going for UC Davis, scoring the team's first goal with a right-footed finish beating two Roadrunner defenders and Holle Hercick in goal.
Canavan gave the Aggies a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute and would hold onto this edge until the 36th minute. With a Bakersfield goal from Nicola Lebakos, the match would find itself at a standstill entering halftime.
With constant pressure and aggressive runs at the goal being a consistent theme for the Aggies in the first half, it was only time before they would break through for another goal. Recording three corners, with five shots on goal, UC Davis dictated the flow of play. With an emphasis on getting forward, the Roadrunners ability to counter this came in the form of drawing the Aggies offsides. In the first half alone, UC Davis was found offsides four times and were forced to stall.
Even with this counter-attack trap in place by Bakersfield, it was only a matter of possessions before the Aggies would break through and make the Roadrunners pay for this style of defense.
That was when history happened. In the 69th minute,
Leslie Fregoso scored the go-ahead goal to give the Aggies a late lead and become the UC Davis' all-time leading goal scorer during the Division I era. Converting on a penalty kick, Fregoso notched her 22nd career goal and 3rd penalty goal of the season.
Her 22 goals breaks Rochelle VanBuskirk's past record of 21 goals which she amounted during her career from 2007-09.
Fregoso now holds sole ownership of five Aggie records.
Head Coach
Tracy Hamm has preached throughout the season how important Fregoso has been to the team this season, as well as the impact she's provided to the entire program during her time as an Aggie. Hamm has gone on record saying, "She's the most consistent player in terms of her mentality, her commitment, her accountability." Hamm also adds that Fregoso is, "everything that a coach would want in terms of a player off the field, and certainly someone a coach would want on the field with her performance."
The penalty goal from Fregoso gave UC Davis a 2-1 advantage but it wouldn't last, as the Roadrunners would claw back with a late goal to salvage the draw. In the 81st minute, Bakersfield would draw even on a Dome Rodriguez goal. With not much time left to spare, the game would come to a close at 2-2 as the Aggies earned their second point during Big West play. UC Davis stays undefeated to kick off the first week of conference action and have a two-game home stretch looming with a perfect opportunity to continue adding points and climbing up the Big West standings.
Today the Aggies had 16 shots with seven being on goal.
Caeley Goldstein made nine saves after facing 22 shots from the opposition. Fouls were evenely distributed with UC Davis picking up 10 to Cal State Bakersfield's, 13.
UP NEXT
Fregoso and the Aggies will have their Big West home opener Thursday, September 28 at Aggie Soccer Field as they take on Long Beach State at 4:00 p.m. PT.
