DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis senior managerial economics major Roy Boateng and freshman managerial economics major Connor Tipton are both ranked among the nation's top players according to Top Drawer Soccer's midseason top 100 lists.

Boateng, who began the year ranked No. 42 on the website's preseason rankings, moved up three spots to No. 39 — the highest-ranked Big West Conference player on the list and one of only four from the league among the top 100.

He has helped spearhead a UC Davis defense that leads the Big West in fewest goals allowed (13) and goals against average (0.88), while standing third in the league in shutouts (5). The Aggies also rank among the top 50 in the nation in goals against average (No. 36) and stand No. 62 in shutout percentage.

Tipton, a midfielder from Sonora, Calif., is ranked No. 75 in the organization's midseason freshman rankings, one of 10 newcomers to the Big West among the top 100. He enters the week tied for sixth on the team in scoring with four points, scoring his first collegiate goal (the game-winner) and assist in a 3-0 win over Gonzaga on Sept. 7, while adding a second assist this season in a 3-1 victory over Santa Clara on Sept. 15.

UC Davis, currently 8-3-3 overall and receiving votes in both the Top Drawer Soccer and College Soccer News rankings this week, remains on the road to open the week, heading down the coast to battle UC Santa Barbara on Wednesday (Oct. 17) at 7 p.m. The Aggies then return home for the final time in the 2018 regular season on Saturday (Oct. 20), hosting Cal State Fullerton on "Senior Day" at 4 p.m.

ABOUT UC DAVIS
Providing a small-town community feel while providing a world-class academic experience, UC Davis is home to more than 37,000 students and centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley. The No. 5-ranked public university in the nation according to the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education, and among the top 10 public universities nationwide according to U.S. News and World Report, UC Davis offers nearly 100 graduate programs and more than 100 academic majors across four colleges and six professional schools, ranking among the world and nation's best in numerous disciplines, including veterinary science, agriculture, and plant and animal programs.

AGGIE EVO
Launched in 2017-18, the Aggie EVO System is UC Davis Athletics' investment in the primary mission of preparing student-athletes for a successful "launch" after graduation. Thanks to a collaboration of alumni, university resources, corporate partners, coaches and Student-Athlete Outcomes staff, all Aggies are guided over four years to acquire the skills, knowledge, opportunities and tools to better know and navigate the "World of Work" after graduating from UC Davis. Follow the Aggie EVO system on Twitter and Instagram at @AggieEVO.