STOCKTON, Calif. – The Pacific men's soccer team raced out to a three-goal lead in the opening 13 minutes before UC Davis mounted a second-half comeback, ultimately resulting in a 3-3 draw on Thursday night from Knoles Field.
The Tigers' (1-1-1) delivered an electric start in their home-opening performance, scoring the fastest three goals to begin a contest in the program's West Coast Conference era before ultimately settling for a draw against the Aggies (0-1-2).
Pacific wasted little time establishing its presence as sophomore
Josephat Yangyuoru collected his first career brace, giving the Tigers an early 1-0 advantage in the fifth minute and tallying Pacific's third goal in the 13th minute for a 3-0 edge. That brace was the first by a Tiger since
Vinzent Zingel during the 2024 season and the first brace at home since Ryan Her on August 28, 2022, in a 4-2 victory over Cal State Bakersfield.
Less than three minutes after Yangyuoru's icebreaker, junior
Carlos Maldonado doubled the lead, putting Pacific ahead 2-0 in the eighth minute. Maldonado's goal marked the first of his Pacific career as he broke free and doubled the Tigers lead early on.
Pacific's defense held firm for the remainder of the opening half. Sophomore
Alejandro Caracheo Luna came up with three saves on the night, two of which came in a clean first half. The Tigers carried the 3-0 lead into the halftime break.
The Aggies flipped the script in the second half as Gabriel Sanchez's hat trick completed a comeback with tallies in the 66th, 77th and 80th minutes.
Pacific weathered the late pressure and held UC Davis scoreless over the final ten minutes to stand with a 3-3 draw after 90 minutes.
Despite being outshot 18-6 overall, Pacific made its early opportunities count, converting three of its six total shots off the feet of Yangyuoru and Maldonado.
The Tigers have a quick turnaround to Knoles Field on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. when they host UC Irvine to complete its homestand.
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