Tigers play even with Aggies

STOCKTON – Despite one final, quality chance in the second overtime, University of the Pacific had to settle for a scoreless tie.

Pacific and visiting UC Davis’ battled through regulation and two overtimes, finishing up at 0-0 Sunday at Knoles Field in non-conference action.

With three minutes left in the second overtime, the Tigers’ Hannah Terry launched a free kick more than half the length of the field into the Aggies goalie box. The ball bounced around but did not find the net and that was the last scoring opportunity for Pacific (1-4-1).

“Everyone on the bench raised a few octaves on that one,” Tigers coach Keith Coleman said. “We would have taken it if it went in.

“It was a battle. We are trying to find that heart and that will-not-give-up-no-matter-what and I think we had a couple of big defensive saves – we had people flying around defensively but we have to be able to find a way to continue that pressure offensively.”

Tigers goalie Lena Perry had a outstanding game, making four saves in overtime – including one as time expired – and she had two spectacular saves in the second half to help maintain the scoreless tie.

Midway through the half, Celina Minissian took a penalty kick for Davis (5-2-1) and Perry dove hard to her left to block the kick. The ball was still alive and Rachel Smith had an opportunity to get the ball into the net, but her shot sailed wide.

“I kind of just have an instinct for it on PKs,” Perry said. “I was super confident about that one.”

In the 85th minute, Perry leaped to deflect a shot and her deflection hit the crossbar, bouncing out and again frustrating the Aggies.

“Our defense was awesome today,” Perry said. “We played with heart and I am super proud of everyone on the team.

“We really battled out there and I am really happy with our performance.”

Shayda Ansari came off the bench in the first half for Pacific and provided the Tigers with a much-needed spark.

With just one shot for Pacific through the game’s first 23 minutes, Ansari intercepted a pass on the wing and tried to get it over Davis goalie Alexis Smith but Smith deflected it into the crossbar.

“It was a close one,” Ansari said. “Mati (Long) was pressing and I was kind of looking for the ball to fumble out and I stole it.

“I looked up, didn’t feel like a cross was the best option and just ripped a shot off of the crossbar.”

In the rest of the first half, Pacific had two more shots and four corner kicks but could not find the net. Lily Higashino came closest, firing a line drive with 10 minutes left in the half that Smith (five saves) again deflected away.

The schedule continues to ramp up when the Tigers host USC Friday night.

“Our schedule keeps ramping up with USC coming in on Friday,” Coleman said. “And this was a perfect build-up game for that because they are fast and they are athletic and USC is beating pretty much everyone in their path.”