Score: UC Davis 0, Cal State Fullerton 0 (UC Davis wins 5-4 in penalties)
Location: Fullerton, Calif. (Titan Stadium)
Records: UC Davis 4-8-6 (4-3-2 Big West), Cal State Fullerton 8-6-6 (5-3-1 Big West)
THE SHORT STORY: UC Davis advanced to the Big West Championship Semifinals after outlasting Cal State Fullerton in a penalty shootout on Wednesday night at Titan Stadium. The Aggies and Titans battled through 110 minutes of scoreless soccer before UC Davis prevailed 5-4 in penalties. Goalkeeper Noah Schwengeler made eight saves to secure the shutout and added a key stop in the shootout, while Zack Lillington converted the decisive penalty kick to send the defending champions back to the semifinals.
PITCH SIDE
- UC Davis advances to its sixth Big West Championship Semifinal in the last seven seasons the conference has held postseason play
- Goalkeeper Noah Schwengeler tallied eight saves for his third shutout of the season.
- Zack Lillington led the Aggie attack with six shots, including the clinching penalty in the shootout.
- Cason Goodman added four shots, two on target, while Chase Tanon registered two shots, both on frame.
- UC Davis finished with 14 total shots, including six on goal, while Fullerton held a 28-14 overall advantage.
- The Aggies scored on all five of their converted penalties — Goodman, House, Tanon, Luke Goodman, and Lillington — while the Titans missed once after Schwengeler recorded a huge stop on Fullerton's Jose de la Torre, the Big West Midfielder of the Year.
- This is the second straight season, that the Aggies have been successful in advancing in a penalty kick contest on their opponents' home field to reach the next round of The Big West postseason.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Fullerton controlled early possession with multiple looks from Mario Carlos and Ulises Grado, but Schwengeler kept the Aggies level with key saves
- UC Davis' best chance came in the 27th minute when Cason Goodman forced a stop from Asger Hemmer.
- Despite 13 Titan shots in the opening half, the Aggie back line held firm to keep the match scoreless at the break.
- Zack Lillington pushed forward early with a shot in the 49th minute, while Schwengeler made a save in the 55th to deny de la Torre.
- UC Davis earned late corners in the 87th and 88th minute, as well as shots in the 72nd and a near goal in the the final seconds from Lillington, but neither side broke through as regulation ended 0-0.
- Both teams traded chances across the two extra periods, with Schwengeler stopping Aiden Bengard's low drive in the 100th minute.
- Hemmer denied consecutive shots from Lillington and Tanon in the second overtime as the Aggies continued to press.
- The score remained 0-0 through 110 minutes, sending the match to penalties.
- Fullerton's Fernando Valenzuela opened with a make before Cason Goodman answered for UC Davis.
- De la Torre missed for Fullerton, and Gavin House converted to give the Aggies an early edge.
- Both sides traded successful attempts until Zack Lillington sealed it with the final conversion to lift UC Davis to the semifinals.
UP NEXT
UC Davis advances to the next round of the Big West Championship, visiting top-seeded UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. PT. The teams previously met on Oct. 8 at Aggie Soccer Field, playing to a 0-0 draw.
