Rachel Smith's goal lifts Aggies to victory

October 5, 2015

HILLSBOROUGH, Ore. - For the third time in the program's history, and first since the 2007 season, UC Davis faced Portland State in Friday's non-conference match at Hillsborough Stadium. By scoring the only goal of the day by either team in the 53rd minute, Rachel Smithhelped the Aggies record a 1-0 victory, the team's first against the Vikings, and improve women's soccer's overall record to 2-1.

With the desired result in Sunday's neutral-site match vs. Eastern Washington, also taking place at the same location as Friday's contest, the Aggies are now on the brink of building its first three-game win streak since the 2011 season.

With the loss, Portland State starts its season with a 0-3 record.

Nicole Bouvia, who earned her earned her second assist in as many matches by setting up the game-winning strike, also tallied her second career point when Smith's shot, one of a match-high four that were taken throughout the afternoon, bounced off the right post into the back of the net.

Smith's goal was her second as an Aggie and the first game-winner of her collegiate career.

As a team, UC Davis recorded six shots in each half to more that double the amount of shots taken by PSU, who finished with five on the day. Of those opportunities, Aggie goalkeeperAlexis Smith only needed to record two saves to earn her first collegiate shutout.

By comparison, the Aggies forced Viking netminder Angela Haluska to make six saves; were it not for a last-ditch effort by one of her teammates in the 61st minute, UC Davis would have doubled its lead.Able to defeat Haluska with the first of her two shots (taken within a 30-second timespan), Celina Minissian was thwarted by a Viking defender who stole a surefire goal from the junior forward by redirecting Minissian's attempt to safety. On a shot that would have scored otherwise, the Aggies were unable to double their lead because of a Viking who, by backing up her teammate who was unable to corral Minissian's shot to begin with, was in the right place at the right time.

Unfazed by that moment of misfortune, UC Davis allowed only one PSU shot for the remainder of the game, an attempt that sailed high over the crossbar out of bounds with 10 minutes left in the game.

In addition to Smith and Minissian, Crystal Crump, Andi Damian,Sienna Drizin, Haley Hughes, Mandy McKeegan and Ana Marija Sola each recorded one shot.

Sunday's match versus the Eagles will kick-off at 1 p.m., links for live stats and video are available at ucdavisaggies.com.