Score: UC Davis 2, Pacific 1
Location: Stockton, Calif. (Knoles Field)
Records: UC Davis 1-0-1, Pacific 0-2-0
THE SHORT STORY: UC Davis women's soccer secured its first victory of the
Kat Mertz era on Sunday night, defeating Pacific 2-1 at Knoles Field in Stockton, Calif.
Ava Coverdale opened the scoring in the first half, and after the Tigers pulled level,
Genavieve Fontes delivered the game-winner to send the Aggies home with a milestone win. Both goals were set up by forward
Sarah Canavan, who notched a pair of assists on the night.
PITCH SIDE
- Kat Mertz recorded her first career win as UC Davis' head coach
- Coverdale scored her first goal of the season in the opening half
- Fontes, the Preseason Coaches' Team selection, netted the decisive goal in the second half
- Canavan tallied two assists, playing a direct role in both Aggie goals
- UC Davis controlled much of the attack, outshooting Pacific in both halves
- Of the 13 shots taken by the Aggies, six of them were on target, displaying UC Davis' pressure from start to finish
- Along with Coverdale and Fontes, Ashleigh Garcia and Bailey Rakela each tallied a shot on goal for the Aggies
- The trio of Brooklyn Tanon, Livi Lewis, and Kiley Fehrenbacher were outstanding on the backline for the Aggies, each playing all 90 minutes against the Tigers
HOW IT HAPPENED
- UC Davis broke through early in the match when Coverdale latched onto a pass from Canavan and finished over the top from outside the box to put the Aggies ahead 1-0 in the 10th minute
- Pacific equalized in the 38th minute to make it 1-1
- The Aggies responded in the 48th minute when Fontes buried the winner, again off a setup from Canavan, restoring the lead at 2-1
- UC Davis held strong over the remainder of the match, limiting the Tigers to three shots in the second half, including Shayna Ross stopping their best chance in the 77th minute
UP NEXT: UC Davis looks to make it two straight victories when the Aggies host San Jose State on Thursday, Aug. 21, at 7 p.m. at Aggie Soccer Field.
