DAVIS, Calif. – A sharp-angled shot from Sienna Drizin in the 78th minute of Friday’s non-conference match against San José State helped the Aggies win its third straight home opener as UC Davis left Aggie Soccer Field with a 1-0 victory.

The win improves the Aggies’ record to 2-1 and extends the team’s win streak against the Spartans to three matches. SJSU falls to 0-2 on the year with its result.

“Everyone [who attended Friday’s match] can see how dangerous San José State is,” said UC Davis head coach Twila Kaufman. “They have a few international players who have a solid first touch and can create plays when the ball is at their feet.

“That was the best performance from [UC Davis’] backline this season, they did a great job containing those players and limiting their scoring opportunities.”

Both teams recorded six shots apiece throughout the afternoon, but it was Drizin who recorded the one that counted on a play that started from a precarious position on the field.

After receiving a pass from Mandy McKeegan, who started the decisive play of the day by causing a turnover, Drizin sprinted with the ball down the far sideline, dribbled towards the end line near the corner, quickly switched directions and blasted past two Spartan defenders.

With nothing but open grass in front of her after remaining in the field of play, Drizin continued to hug the far line while dribbling towards the goal. It was then when SJSU goalkeeper Zoe Makrigiannis stepped off her line, forcing Drizin to make a decision.

Instead of passing the ball towards a pack of players fighting for position in front of the goal, as Makrigiannis hoped by advancing towards the ball, Drizin curled a shot towards the near post. Not only was she able to place the necessary spin needed to curve the ball around that post, she hit it with enough force to prevent Makrigiannis from catching, or deflecting the ball out-of-bounds.

Simply put, a textbook decision made by a goalkeeper – stepping away from the net to block any possible scoring lane from such a sharp angle – was trumped by a highlight-quality shot.

“I am proud of the way Sienna [Drizin] was able to validate everyone else’s hard work by making a play at that crucial point of the match,” said Kaufman.

Drizin’s run wasn’t the only dangerous scoring opportunity of the day; midway through the first half, Zuzu Romano forced another SJSU defender to lose possession of the ball on her third of the field. That mistake nearly cost the Spartans dearly as Romano’s shot just sailed above the crossbar.

A one-time header from Lindsay O’Tousa, off a first-half UC Davis free kick, deflected towards Makrigiannis for her first of three saves. By standing in the right place, at the right time, she prevented UC Davis from scoring what would otherwise have been its first goal.

Responsible for three saves of her own, Aggie goalkeeper Taylor Jern, combined with the efforts of her defenders, stonewalled San José State throughout the entire game. For the Spartans, their most dangerous scoring chances all took place on plays that were negated by the Aggie backline’s situational awareness.

On five occasions, SJSU was called offsides – plays that forced a whistle due to the unit’s heads-up teamwork. By drawing their opponents out of position whenever a scoring opportunity was building, the Aggies forced SJSU to become its own enemy while on offense.

Even when those plays continued well past the whistle, Jern still emerged victorious from those one-on-one, San José State scoring situations.

The Aggies’ current homestand will conclude Sunday afternoon in the program’s first-ever head-to-head meeting against Quinnipiac. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

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