Box Score (PDF)
DAVIS, Calif. – The UC Davis men's soccer team opened Big West Conference play Thursday at Aggie Stadium with a 3-1 win against Cal State Fullerton behind a two-assist afternoon by junior midfielder Ryan Gross.
In the 16th minute, the Aggies jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on Lucas Mohageg's thrid goal of the year. Mohageg got his head on a long throw-in by Gross; the junior flicked on the ball, taking a bounce off of the left post before crossing the goal line past CSF keeper David Rodriguez Elias.
Rodriguez Elias didn't have much time to dwell on the goal, as he was called upon for a big save in the 19th minute when the Aggies' Matt Sheldon came in alone and tried to slide a ball low to the right post, but Rodriguez Elias was up to the challenge, keeping the Titan deficit at one.
The game remained 1-0 to end the first half, with the Aggies holding a 5-2 lead in shots, but the Titans enjoying the lead on corner kicks 1-0.
In the 58th minute, UC Davis' Kyle Higgins scored his first of the season to give the Aggies some breathing room. Higgins controlled the ball from 30 yards out, turned his defender, and looped a shot over Rodriguez Elias to make the score 2-0 UCD.
Fullerton pulled within a goal in the 65th minute after a handball in the box was called on the Aggies, gifting the Titans a penalty kick. Senior Ian Ramos stepped up and placed a shot inside the right post, past goalkeeper Armando Quezada, making the score 2-1.
A final score by UC Davis' Justin Kitts in the 90th minute made it 3-1 and put the game out of reach for the Titans. A long ball, sent forward by Gross was headed forward by Dashiell MacNamara, opened up Kitts down the left side for the last minute goal, his first of the season.
Cal State Fullerton continues Big West Conference play Saturday, 3 p.m. at Sacramento State
Notes: The Titans have lost their last four Big West Conference openers…a four-game winning streak for the Titans was snapped with the loss to UC Davis, the last-five game win streak was in the 2000 season when the Titans reeled off eight straight…with this win, UC Davis has evened up the all-time series record with Cal State Fullerton 7-7-3.