3-7-2 (1-3-1)
UC Davis
6-6-2 (2-3-0)
Pressley, Dhillon Help Cal Poly Slide Past UC Davis, 2-1
10/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
SAN LUIS OBISPO – Senior forward Justin Dhillon's team-leading seventh goal of the year provided the winning margin and sophomore forward Jared Pressley (top, center) opened the scoring Wednesday evening with his first goal of the season as the Cal Poly men's soccer program earned its first Big West Conference victory of 2016 by edging UC Davis inside Alex G. Spanos Stadium, 2-1.
Junior goalkeeper Eric Kam recorded four saves for Cal Poly (3-7-2, 1-3-1; four points), which moved within two points of third-place UC Davis (6-6-2, 2-3-0; six points) in the Big West North Division standings. The Mustangs also closed within three points of second-place Sacramento State (6-5-2, 2-2-1; seven points) after the Hornets finished in a 1-1 draw at division leader UC Santa Barbara (7-5-2, 3-0-2; 11 points) earlier Wednesday.
Wednesday's win was Cal Poly's first against UC Davis since Oct. 31, 2012, breaking a six-match unbeaten run versus the Aggies.
Cal Poly secured the lead just 69 seconds into action with Dhillon playing a ball over the top of the UC Davis defense for Pressley, who fired from the right edge of the Aggies penalty area. The shot was deflected by Aggies defender Roy Boateng and into the back of the net.
UC Davis squared the scoreline in the 30th minute as defender Kyle Higgins drove toward the end line before cutting a pass back to defender Dashiell MacNamara, who shot from 10 yards past Kam.
The Mustangs forced Aggies goalkeeper Armando Quezada into three second-half saves, but produced the game-winning effort in the 61st minute. In a reversal of Cal Poly's first goal, Pressley played a ball back to Dhillon, who headed in his 15th career goal from three yards out.
At the other end of Spanos Stadium, Kam recorded his final save in the 81st minute to preserve Cal Poly's margin.
Cal Poly closes its four-match home stand on Saturday, Oct. 15 against Blue-Green rival UC Santa Barbara. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Alexander Bohlen.
Team Stats
Pressley, Jared (1)
Assisted By: Dhillon, Justin
GOAL by Cal Poly Pressley, Jared (FIRST GOAL), Assist by Dhillon, Justin, goal number 1 for season.
1:09
MacNamara, Dashiell (1)
Assisted By: Higgins, Kyle
Ball over the top of UCD defense; 32 dri
29:36
Dhillon, Justin (7)
Assisted By: Pressley, Jared
Pass from right of goal; header from 3 y
60:56
