Score: UC Davis 1, Cal State Bakersfield 0
Location: Davis, Calif.
Records: UC Davis 6-5-5 (2-3-2), Cal State Bakersfield 6-4-4 (3-2-2)
The short story: UC Davis men's soccer used a collective team effort, highlighted by a pair of stops against two penalties and a goal from
Zack Lillington, to earn a crucial three points in the Big West.
PITCH SIDE
- Lillington was dynamic all game for the Aggies, scoring the team's lone goal while contributing at center back to a backline that allowed only four shots on goal
- Noah Schwengeler contributed with his second clean sheet of the season, recording two saves, none bigger than his penalty save in the 5th minute
- Chase Tanon picked up his third assist of the year, tied for second-most among all Aggies
- The defensive group of Lillington, Jason Hsu, Carson Hammond, Luke Goodman, and Cole Pond were fantastic for the Aggies, playing all 90 minutes and contributing to the shutout by limiting the Roadrunners to just four shots on goal while controlling the aerial game
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Lillington got the fans at Aggie Soccer Field excited early, giving UC Davis confidence moving forward with a 1-0 lead in the 3rd minute off a perfect corner set piece
- UC Davis was immediately tested with a shot and a corner kick in the 4th minute, and then again with a penalty in the 5th, which Schwengeler saved to keep the game at 1-0
- Both sides continued to build their attacks, but action was halted by offsides, with six total calls limiting both teams from getting on the board, leaving UC Davis with the one-goal lead after half
- After the break, the Roadrunners were mere feet from scoring, earning another penalty in the 50th minute, but this time it found the crossbar, allowing the Aggies to maintain the lead
- UC Davis' best scoring opportunities of the second half came from Colton Franklin in the 67th and 75th minutes, with one of his shots just missing the top of the goal
- Despite not being able to add an insurance goal, the Aggies leaned on their strong defense to secure a much-needed three points and stay in contention for the Big West Championships
WHAT HEAD COACH DWAYNE SHAFFER HAD TO SAY
"I thought defensively, the team played extremely well. We held Cal State Bakersfield scoreless at home, which was huge for us to get a shutout. The biggest thing is we got three points. It doesn't matter how well we played, or anything else, we got three points and kept ourselves in the Big West playoff picture."
NEXT UP: The Aggies will play their final home game of the season this Saturday, hosting UC San Diego for Senior Day at 3 p.m. PT.
