UC Davis
Mustangs Drop 4-2 Decision at UC Davis
10/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
DAVIS, Calif. – Strikes by sophomore forward Chris Gaschen and senior forward David Zamora provided the Cal Poly men's soccer team the lead shortly after halftime on Saturday afternoon, but UC Davis netted three unanswered goals during an 18-minute span in the second half to post a 4-2 victory against the Mustangs at Aggie Soccer Field.
Junior goalkeeper Patrick McLain recorded four saves for Cal Poly (6-6-3, 3-3-2), which slipped to fifth place in the Big West Conference standings on 11 points. UC Davis (6-11-0, 4-5-0), dealt a 2-1 defeat at Cal Poly six days ago, leapfrogged the Mustangs for third place by improving to 12 points with two matches remaining for both programs. The top-four conference programs qualify for the Nov. 10 and 13 Big West Tournament.
UC Davis snatched the initial advantage through sophomore defender Ethan Shawlee's 31st minute strike. The Mustangs, held to three shot attempts during the final 45 minutes, deadlocked the scoreline during the 46th as Gaschen – who notched the game-winning goal in Cal Poly's 2-1 upset of No. 19 UC Santa Barbara on Oct. 27 – took a solitary touch before firing past UC Davis goalkeeper Ryan McCowan and into the top right corner of the Aggie net. Following junior forward Tim White and senior midfielder Junior Burgos, Gaschen is the third Mustang to score in consecutive matches this season.
The Mustangs, who have scored multiple goals in three-successive matches, wrested the lead during the 57th, as Burgos played a through ball toward Zamora (above), who scorched the upper right corner of the Aggie net for his third goal of the year. Already Cal Poly's career leader for points (60) and appearances (76), Zamora moved within two goals of Clay Harty's program record of 26, set between 1995-96.
Cal Poly's lead lasted just 11 minutes as UC Davis junior midfielder Lance Patterson allowed the Aggies to draw level in the 68th before sophomore forward John Joslin swung the advantage in the host's favor just 74 seconds later. Sophomore forward Dan Reese added an 87th-minute goal to finish the scoring.
Cal Poly returns to Alex G. Spanos Stadium to close the home portion of its 2010 regular season with a 7 p.m. match against joint third-place Cal State Fullerton on Wednesday, Nov. 3.
