Box Score IRVINE, Calif. --- Senior Day saw lots of action Sunday afternoon in Anteater Stadium, however the victory fell to UC Davis, 2-1, to finish off the 2015 season for each side.
The Daylight Savings occurring earlier in the day, both squads seemed to need an extra hour to get going following a first half with six total shots, and the lone goal-bound strike coming on a two-hopper from Rachel Smith near the top of the box.
The second half saw the volume turn up with UC Davis (10-7-2, 3-4-1) providing the initial pressure before it paid off in the 54th minute.
A spot-on corner kick from Mandy McKeegan found McKenna Moriarty near the far post who headed home the delivery and make it 1-0.
UC Irvine (7-11-1, 3-5-0) came right back down with a few quick responses, and the answer was found in the 60th minute from Kiana Palacios.
Brittany Nguyen found her down the right wing, and she created space and crossed a hard ball through the box. It was en route to Claudia Lopez, but fell just far of her. Instead, the ball continued to travel and eluded Aggie keeper Alexis Smith inside the far post to tie the match up, 1-1.
Order was restored to the match until UCD forward Zuzu Romano entered the match in the 70th minute and made her impact felt immediately.
She found herself with the ball entering the top of the box from the left side, and a hard dart heading toward the far post was deflected to the near post with an already-committed Corey Tobin unable to track back and save it putting UC Davis ahead, 2-1, in the 72nd minute.
The Anteater continued their pursuit, even staving off another header attempt by Moriarty as a defender headed it back out, but the equalizer never came and the Aggies finished with the 2-1 win.
"I wish that we had a different outcome," said Clarissa Robles, overcome with emotion, "but being out there with the girls for a last time, I'm never going to forget it. Playing out here for the last time and being with these group of girls and representing UCI is something I'm never going to forget."
Robles and the ladies fired up seven shots on the afternoon. Palacios knocked in goal No. 5 on the year, and accounted for the final four goals on the season. Brittany Nguyen's assist marked her first career point.
Tobin on the defensive end stopped three shots of her own totaling 124 in her career.
The 'Eaters finish up with a 7-11-1 record overall, and go 3-5-0 in the Big West sitting at seventh place in the standings.
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