Men’s soccer falls to Air Force in Mountain West home opener, extending 10-game winless streak
The 0-2 defeat displayed the Aggies’ weakness in the attacking third
By COLINA HARVEY— sports@theaggie.org
On Sept. 30, the UC Davis men’s soccer team took on the United States Air Force Academy in the Mountain West home opener. The Air Force Falcons won 2-0, netting one goal in each half. The Aggies have struggled this season, with this loss bringing their overall record to 0-6-4.
The Aggies recorded their first shot of the game in the seventh minute when Davis’ outside back Joshua Gault, a second-year civil engineering major, received a ball over the top. He made a run into the box and beat his defender, but his shot was high.
In the 10th minute, Davis’ Cole Powell, a fourth-year civil engineering major, committed a foul just outside the Aggies’ penalty box. Air Force’s Menes Ajyeman took the free kick and delivered a well-placed ball on target, but goalkeeper Talin Morgan, a second-year managerial economics major, was able to get a hand on it, sending it high over the net.
Midway through the half, both teams settled into the game — getting more opportunities for shots through quick, short passes. UC Davis midfielder Declan Horio, a fourth-year managerial economics major, repeatedly attempted to make crosses into the box, but could not connect with his teammates for the finish.
In the 37th minute, Air Force earned a throw-in close to Davis’ goal. The Falcons threw it into the box and got a few touches on it, but failed to put power on the ball, allowing Morgan to save it.
In the 39th minute, Davis was fouled directly in front of Air Force’s goal just a few feet outside of the box. Tristan Wouters, a third-year communication major, took the kick, but his shot sailed high and wide.
In the 42nd minute, Air Force’s Sean Odle sent a long ball over the top to Ben Brophy, who was able to get his head on the ball and tip it right over Morgan. Although Morgan got a finger on it, he was too far out of his goal to save it. The half ended with the Aggies trailing 1-0.
Despite the competitive edge the Aggies had throughout the first half, they were unable to carry that energy into the final third of Air Force’s territory. While the Air Force Academy only had three shots, they were able to capitalize on that momentum, scoring a goal three minutes before halftime.
In the second half, Air Force began to control the ball more and take more offensive opportunities. In the 52nd minute, Air Force’s Hector Orozco made a big run up the line, crossing it to Brophy, who had an open look at the goal. His shot was saved by goalkeeper Mekhai Wilson, a fourth-year sociology major, who came in at the half.
In the 62nd minute, Aggie defender Michael Bulloch, a first-year managerial economics major, committed a foul in the box, giving Air Force a penalty kick. Orozco took the kick and placed it in the lower left corner of the net. Wilson dove to the left, but could not quite reach the ball, putting the Aggies down 2-0.
In the 78th minute came the Aggies’ best chance to score. The Aggies won a corner, which was taken by Horio. He crossed the ball deep toward the back post to Nico Collins, a first-year managerial economics major, who got a good touch on the ball but struck the post.
In the last minute, Air Force went up for another goal when Quinn Muderlak made a run down the field, but narrowly missed as the ball hit the crossbar just before the final whistle blew.
The Aggies finished with 15 shots, on par with Air Force’s 14 shots. However, just three of the Aggies’ shots were on target while Air Force more than doubled that, recording seven shots on goal.
The Aggies will return home for a conference match against Grand Canyon University on Oct.10.
Written by: Colina Harvey — sports@theaggie.org