Sophomore midfielder Mandy McKeegan assisted forward Rachel Smith on a goal in each half as UC Davis completed a 3-0 shutout of Denver in non-conference women's soccer action at Aggie Soccer Stadium Sunday afternoon.

The Aggies win their fifth straight overall and their fourth by shutout to improve to 5-1. The Pioneers remain winless at 0-5-1.

"I am really proud, again, of our whole team. I feel that everyone is hitting their stride ... and improving each game," said UC Davis head coach Twila Kaufman. "We are just looking forward to becoming a better team."

Smith raised her season total to five goals on her two scores, while McKeegan now has three assists, all to Smith. The first came in the 39th minute off a corner, soon after DU's starting goalkeeper, Cassidy Rey, left the game due to injury. McKeegan sent a corner kick from the left side directly into the center of the box, and Smith headed it home.

The second McKeegan-to-Smith goal took place in the 84th, this time from the opposite corner. McKeegan kept possession on the far right, then centered it to Smith just inside the penalty box. Smith struck the ball low into the cage, bringing the score to 3-0.

Haley Hughes scored the initial goal of the contest on a rebound and putback in the 24th. Junior Andi Damian, who handled the corner kick, got the first shot off. Rey gloved the ball toward the left side of the cage, where Hughes came in to knock it back in.

UC Davis outshot Denver by a 13-5 margin and held a 5-2 edge on corners, two of which led to goals. Redshirt freshman keeper Alexis Smith notched three saves in her fourth shutout of the season, including stops against Leah Swander and Stella Norman in just the first 15 minutes of play.

"There is no secret, everyone is working hard and making the right decisions on a consistent basis. Even when this takes place, sometimes, in the sport of soccer, things will not go your way. That is why we enjoy results like today when it takes place," said Kaufman regarding her team's fourth consecutive shutout. 

This is the longest streak of clean sheets recorded by any UC Davis women's soccer team since its transition to Division I play in 2007. 

The Aggies conclude a three-game homestand against Nevada on Friday at 5 p.m.

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