The Nevada women’s soccer team (5-13-1, 2-7-1) defeated the University of California, Davis Aggies (6-10-3, 4-5-1) 1-0 on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Mackay Stadium in their season finale. The Wolf Pack, looking to end their senior night on a high, recorded their first shutout of the season.
Nevada took control of the ball early in the first half. Their first real chance came in the 17th minute, when a long pass from junior midfielder Reika Yuba found redshirt senior midfielder Jasmine Navarro, but the attempt was saved by Aggies redshirt senior goalkeeper Cat Pieper.
The Aggies looked to take away some of the Pack’s early momentum, with their attackers pressing high up the pitch. Two missed opportunities followed as a cross in from redshirt senior defender Sydnie Fong was caught by Nevada fifth-year goalkeeper Mia Collins in the 25th minute. Collins also deflected a shot from redshirt sophomore Lakelee Perkins with a diving save shortly after.
Despite the pressure, Nevada kept looking for opportunities to open the scoring. In the 30th minute, they finally converted.
Senior forward Leslie Jacobo–Duran kept Pieper from closing in, and her quick attack found the right side of the net, putting the Wolf Pack up 1-0.
Mackay Stadium on Saturday Nov. 7. (Peyton Frost/The Nevada Sagebrush)
In the 34th minute, the Pack pressed, and a shot from junior forward Carmen Coronado was hit just off the crossbar.
Nevada’s attack remained fluid and strong, while UC Davis struggled to open up goal scoring chances. In the 39th minute, sophomore forward Ella Hallert headed a cross from freshman midfielder Daniela Mayorga-Torres in the Aggies’ penalty box, but once again Pieper was a roadblock for the Wolf Pack.
The remainder of the first half saw both teams on top of the ball but unable to connect, and they went into halftime 1-0.
In the second half, Nevada continued to control the game. A long shot from sophomore midfielder Avery Hayes in the 46th minute looked promising, but Pieper tipped it over the box.
The Aggies had their first scoring chance of the half in the 51st minute. A cross to redshirt sophomore forward Ashley Brewer in their attacking half nearly found her, but Collins came out of the box and deflected the ball away.
Despite an uneventful second half, Nevada still maintained control. Collins made two more saves in the 74th and 77th minutes after Perkins and redshirt junior defender Courtney Wagner threatened an Aggie resurgence.
A loose pass from Collins in the 84th minute created a scoring chance. In the end, Nevada’s strong defense kept the Aggies from capitalizing on the mistake and equalizing.
In the rest of the half, Collins and Pieper made key saves in the box, keeping attackers on both sides at bay.
In the final minute, Nevada challenged for a penalty after fifth-year defender Mya Wheeler went down in their attacking half. After a long review, the call was unfounded, with the Pack defeating the Aggies 1-0.
