Decade of dominance: UC Davis extends unbeaten streak

 

Aggies have not lost a match to the Hornets in the last 10 years

 

 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - UC Davis took 21 shots compared to Sacramento State’s 13, dominated both overtime periods in Friday’s Causeway Cup contest at Hornet Field and saw sophomore goalkeeper Alexis Smith set a new career high in a match that ended in a double-overtime draw.

 

Even though the Aggies did not record their desired result, the tied score extended two streaks: women’s soccer has not lost any of the four overtime matchups in this head-to-head series, and extended its unbeaten streak versus the Hornets to 10 matches.

 

September 3, 2006 is the last time UC Davis lost a match to Sacramento State; throughout the last decade, the Aggies have won seven games and tied the other three.

 

In addition to splitting the five Causeway Cup points up for grabs in the first rivalry meeting of the 2016-17 season, each team will enter its next match with an identical 2-2-1 overall record.

 

Friday’s game also marked the sixth time in the last seven years that UC Davis shut out Sacramento State; the Hornets have only scored one goal in the last 620:55 of game time.

 

“I would have loved to leave with a win, I’m proud of the way my team played today,” said UC Davis head coach Twila Kaufman. “For a young team to visit its rival, play aggressively like this and take 21 shots, this is a great sign as we work towards Big West play.

 

“I think we just ran out of time today.”

 

From the opening whistle, women’s soccer wasted no time firing away at the Hornets’ new. Led by Celina Minissian with her five attempts, 12 players took their chances against Sacramento State netminder Destiny Butcher.

 

Throughout this action-packed contest, both Butcher, and Smith were tested on numerous occasions. Butcher ended the day with five saves; Smith doubled her total to finish with a new single-game career high.

 

“Alexis Smith is one of the best goalkeepers in the country, said Kaufman following the match. “Who wouldn’t love to play in front of her?”

 

Facing an overtime situation for the second time in the last three matches, UC Davis successfully forced most of the action to take place in Sacramento State’s third of the field for nearly all of the 20 minutes of extra time. Outside of a few occasions where the ball crossed over the midfield line for just a few moments, Sacramento State was unable to create a dangerous scoring opportunity until the final minute of double overtime.

 

UC Davis was responsible for all three shots recorded in OT, and posted the first three of double OT until that last-ditch effort by the Hornets.

 

While Friday’s rivalry game extended a couple of streaks for UC Davis, it also ended a unique one for Sacramento State: none of its last 50 games ended with a tied score. September 29, 2013, marked the last time the Hornets earned a draw, a game that also finished with a scoreless result.  

 

Women’s soccer will return home for the first time since its season opener when Fresno State visits Aggie Soccer Field Sunday afternoon. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.