Thursday, April 16, 2015
YOLO COUNTY NEWS
99 CENTS

Aggies savor 2-1 OT victory over powerful UCLA

The UC Davis men's soccer team celebrates after Alex Henry (right, without shirt) scored the winning goal in overtime to defeat No. 6 UCLA at Aggie Field. Wayne Tilcock/Enterprise photo

By
From page B1 | September 5, 2011 |

With no practice scheduled Monday, members of the UC Davis men’s soccer team spent an extra 24 hours on Cloud 9.

After stunning No. 6 UCLA, 2-1, in overtime on Sunday at Aggie Soccer Stadium, the local heroes have been the buzz of the collegiate soccer world.

And that spotlight feels mighty good.

“This means a lot not only to the players, but to our entire athletic program,” UCD coach Dwayne Shaffer said after Alex Henry’s goal in the final seconds of the first overtime period sent the Aggies to victory.

But this win wasn’t a fluke.

Shaffer knew his team had just dominated a school that has national-championship aspirations.

“(This) shows that UC Davis is able to play with the elite Division I programs,” the 15-year Aggie coach added. “UCLA is a very good team. They have some pros on that team, but in the game of soccer you always have a chance to win.”

Shaffer believed UCD “executed tactics perfectly (Sunday). I thought it was evident, that after 25 minutes, UCLA couldn’t handle our counterattack. I knew eventually we were going to get one on them.”

As the 1,050 fans attending in standing-room-only conditions saw, the Aggies had to get two on UCLA.

After the Bruins showed their frustrating ball-control style early in the game, UCD’s patience and brilliant transition game started to take its toll.

When former Atascadero High star Alex Aguiar smoked a screwball past UCLA’s diving goalie Earl Edwards two minutes into the second half, the crowd sensed something different about Sunday afternoon.

The Aggies had a couple more near scores before a rare defensive lapse let the Bruins back in.

At 86:41, Kelyn Rowe supplied a dead-on through ball to UCLA attacker Chandler Hoffman, who had only to redirect the ball to the right of stymied keeper Omar Zeenni.

There was nothing Zeenni could do on that shot, but his acrobatic saves earlier in the contest had set the Aggie stage for upset. Crestfallen, UCD fans pondered that now all was even.

“We knew if we controlled our composure, we could (still) come out with a win,” Henry believed. “I was making runs all game down the left side. I knew my team would get me the ball, eventually.

“(John) Joslin got the ball to me, then I got the ball past a defender … looked up and saw an open shot I couldn’t pass up. Finally I got it on net.”

Zeenni, from Arcadia, had his parents, family and friends in attendance and joined the on-field celebration with humility …

“Our guys played spectacular, man,” he said. “The preparation for this game was not so much different. But everybody was so focused and we weren’t intimidated.

“We took the challenge and made the best of it: (Ethan) Shawlee, Brian Ford, (Lance) Patterson, (Rene) Cuellar … We had a mental lapse in the last three minutes, but we got it back. And we earned it.”

Notes: Next up for the Aggies is another home weekend, featuring Oregon State on Friday (2:30 p.m.) and Cal State Bakersfield (4 p.m., Sunday). Each day features a doubleheader with the UCD women’s team, which plays Creighton on Friday at 5 p.m. and has UNLV on Sunday at 1 p.m. … Men’s teams in the Big West Conference are now 13-5-3 on the young season. UC Santa Barbara (at UCD on Saturday, Oct. 8 ) is ranked ninth nationally and UC Irvine (there on Wednesday, Oct. 19) is No. 14. … The Aggies were without key sophomore forward Kevin Schulte (illness) against UCLA. “Kevin’s a great player,” Shaffer says. “He’s our quickest and most technical player … and (when he’s) back on the field, that makes us even a little bit better.”

— Reach Bruce Gallaudet at [email protected] or (530) 747-8047.

Comments

comments

Bruce Gallaudet

  • Recent Posts

  • Enter your email address to subscribe to this newspaper and receive notifications of new articles by email.

  • .

    News

     
    Experts move us toward better transportation solutions

    By Special to The Enterprise | From Page: A1 | Gallery

    Test-taking goes digital next week

    By Jeff Hudson | From Page: A1 | Gallery

     
    California’s cycles of drought

    By New York Times News Service | From Page: A1 | Gallery

     
    Winters man sentenced in child pornography case

    By Enterprise staff | From Page: A2

     
    Two jailed after burglary, police chase

    By Lauren Keene | From Page: A2

    Small aircraft lands on Capitol lawn

    By The Associated Press | From Page: A2

     
    AAUW hosts Yamada speech

    By Special to The Enterprise | From Page: A3

    Bike clinic set May 17 at I-House

    By Enterprise staff | From Page: A3

     
    Per Capita Davis: A gusher of water conservation news

    By John Mott-Smith | From Page: A3

    Fujimoto receives Ag Sustainability Leadership Award

    By Special to The Enterprise | From Page: B4 | Gallery

     
    Davis plans for next steps with electric vehicles

    By Special to The Enterprise | From Page: B4 | Gallery

    Support network

    By Special to The Enterprise | From Page: A4 | Gallery

     
    .

    Forum

    Feeling like a sucker

    By Special to The Enterprise | From Page: B5

     
    Tom Meyer cartoon

    By Debbie Davis | From Page: A6

     
    College applications and criminal records

    By New York Times News Service | From Page: A6Comments are off for this post

    Free speech in Israel

    By Letters to the Editor | From Page: A6

     
    Thanks for the support!

    By Letters to the Editor | From Page: A6

    Provide more metered parking

    By Letters to the Editor | From Page: A6

     
    .

    Sports

    Critical home stretch at hand for UCD lacrosse team

    By Bruce Gallaudet | From Page: B1

     
    DHS girls win big, now look ahead to Franklin

    By Evan Ream | From Page: B1 | Gallery

    Blue Devil swimmers win everything against Grant

    By Enterprise staff | From Page: B1 | Gallery

     
    Tough stretch continues for Davis baseballers

    By Enterprise staff | From Page: B1

    Devil golfers use some new faces in victory

    By Enterprise staff | From Page: B1 | Gallery

     
    Youth roundup: Diamonds dominate recent championship meets

    By Enterprise staff | From Page: B2 | Gallery

    Pro sports briefs: Lopez lifts Republic FC over Vancouver

    By Staff and wire reports | From Page: B3

     
    Sports briefs: Blue Devils get a wild softball win

    By Enterprise staff | From Page: B3

    JV/frosh roundup: Two big wins for younger DHS boys lacrosse

    By Enterprise staff | From Page: B8 | Gallery

     
    .

    Features

    Wine and beast: the vegetarian version

    By Susana Leonardi | From Page: A7

     
    .

    Arts

    Croatian film featured at I-House series

    By Enterprise staff | From Page: A7Comments are off for this post

     
    DMTC to present ‘Wizard of Oz’

    By Special to The Enterprise | From Page: A7

    Gurf Morlix will take root at The Palms

    By Enterprise staff | From Page: A7 | Gallery

     
    ‘Mary Poppins’ auditions set at WOH

    By Enterprise staff | From Page: A7

     
    .

    Business

    Pollinate Davis opens creative and communal working space

    By Felicia Alvarez | From Page: A3, 1 Comment | Gallery

     
    .

    Obituaries

    Herman Timm

    By Special to The Enterprise | From Page: A4

     
    .

    Comics

    Comics: Thursday, April 16, 2015

    By Creator | From Page: A5

     
    .

    Picnic Day 2015

    UC Davis hosts the 101st Picnic Day

    By Special to The Enterprise | From Page: PND2

    Picnic Day 2015 notable events

    By Special to The Enterprise | From Page: PND4

    Not your typical Paint Horse

    By Enterprise staff | From Page: PND5

    Chemistry Club does a bang-up job with magic show

    By Enterprise staff | From Page: PND6

    A winner of a wiener: Nibbles, ’09 Grand Champion

    By Daniella Tutino | From Page: PND10 | Gallery

    Schedule of 2015 Picnic Day bands around campus

    By Special to The Enterprise | From Page: PND14

    Picnic Day parade marshals give direction and give back

    By Special to The Enterprise | From Page: PND21

    A great day for a parade

    By Enterprise staff | From Page: PND22

    More than 70 parade participants

    By Special to The Enterprise | From Page: PND23

    UC’s only design majors show off Signature Collection

    By Special to The Enterprise | From Page: PND24

    Working like a dog

    By Enterprise staff | From Page: PND27

    Picnic Day 2015 animal events schedule

    By Special to The Enterprise | From Page: PND28

    Battle of the Bands is Picnic Day at its best

    By Tanya Perez | From Page: PND31