Score: UC Davis 2, Cal State Fullerton 1
Location: Titan Stadium (Fullerton, Calif.)
Records: UC Davis 3-8-5, 3-3-2 | Cal State Fullerton 8-5-5, 5-2-1
THE SHORT STORY:Â UC Davis rallied from a first-half deficit with two second-half goals to defeat Cal State Fullerton 2-1 on the road Saturday night. Gavin House scored the equalizer in the 78th minute before Zachary Neuls netted the game-winner in the 90th. The win was the Aggies' third in Big West play and handed the Titans just their second conference loss of the season.
PITCH SIDE
- Zachary Neuls delivered the game-winning goal in the final minute, finishing with four total shots and two on frame
- Gavin House scored the equalizer in the 78th minute on his only shot of the match, assisted by Cason Goodman
- Goodman contributed an assist and recorded three total shots, one on target
- Zack Lillington led all players with seven shots, including three on goal, and added an assist on the game-winner
- Goalkeeper Noah Schwengeler played the full 90 minutes, making three saves to preserve the result
- UC Davis outshot Fullerton 27-10 overall and held a 7-4 edge in shots on goal, controlling the flow of the game all night
- With the win, UC Davis sit in sixth place, part of a three-way tie for fourth in the Big West standings, and remain in strong position for a postseason berth
- The Aggies sit three points clear of UC San Diego with one match remaining and hold the advantage in key tiebreak scenarios after drawing earlier in the year against the Tritons
- A result in Wednesday's regular-season finale against UC Santa Barbara would officially secure UC Davis a spot in the Big West Championship
HOW IT HAPPENED
- UC Davis generated early momentum with back-to-back chances from Goodman and Lillington inside the opening ten minutes
- Fullerton broke through in the 24th minute as Ulises Grado scored off a feed from Matthew Sacristan to take a 1-0 lead
- The Aggies continued to apply pressure, earning multiple corners and testing goalkeeper Asger Hemmer with four shots on target as part of a 12-shot first half
- UC Davis continued knocking after the halftime break, leveling the match in the 77th minute when Goodman set up House for a beautfiul one-touch finish just outside the box
- The Aggie magic continued late, as Neuls buried Lillington's pass in the 90th minute to complete the comeback and give UC Davis a 2-1 victory at Cal State Fullerton
UP NEXT
UC Davis returns home to close the regular season against Sacramento State on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m. from Aggie Soccer Field.
