Washington D.C. - On a near game-by-game basis, the 2019 UC Davis Field Hockey team seems to find a new milestone to break or yet another to bear down on.
Last week, it was
Shannon Wong scoring her second goal of the season against No. 7 Louisville, a goal that marked the first time the Aggies had ever led a ranked opponent.
On Thursday afternoon in Washington D.C., it was senior
Tatiana Arias scoring her first goal of the season on an assist by junior
Madison Theodore 90 seconds into the second period for what would prove to be the game winner in a 1-0 victory over American University.
Thursday's win outdid the 2018 team for the fastest start to a season in school history as the Aggies (4-2) reached four wins in fewer games than any other team previous. UC Davis started the 2018 season 4-3.
"I told the group this was probably the most important win of our progress in the last three years," UC Davis Head Coach
Britt Broady said. "We've been building but we haven't gotten that result in the form of a win. This win against a really, really strong American team...this is what we've been reaching for."
The Eagles (3-4) were a relative unknown to UC Davis with the team having not faced them over any current players' tenure but they were introduced to American's aggressive style early.
The Eagles were inside the circle and threatening to score within the opening minute of the game and took advantage of 13 UC Davis fouls to take eight penalty corners in the game as American players often wasted little time after receiving a pass to sprint upfield.
A team with two shutouts on the season before Thursday's game, the Aggies are no stranger to one-goal games though and showed the ability to consistently win one-on-one matchups and made it difficult to maneuver in and out of the circle.
Thursday was also a homecoming of sorts for Broady, who began her coaching career at American.
"I would hope that it would mirror it a lot," Broady said of her coaching versus that of longtime American Head Coach Steve Jennings. "Steve is probably, if not the best, one of the best coaches in NCAA field hockey. A lot of what I try to do and a lot of who I am as a coach and as a person I attribute to learning from him."
With two of their last three games before Thursday coming against ranked opponents, Broady stressed the significance of her team being able to enter a game on a level playing field and come away with a win rather than entering with the benefits being the underdog can come with.
"They were both really good games," Broady said of No. 7 Louisville and No. 23 Michigan State. "But with our progression and the building of our program, we are really good at being the underdog. We need to continue to gain confidence and skill in walking into a game that is quite even, like (UC Davis) against American. Then, are we able to do the job or do we need that chip on our shoulder."
The Aggies will have two more chances to answer that question under similar circumstances on this trip, beginning with Saturday's 11 a.m. PST date with VCU on
ESPN+. The Rams enter Saturday's game similarly to UC Davis having dropped a game to No. 22 Old Dominion earlier in the season and will see Richmond the day before, another team who has faced multiple ranked opponents this season.
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 15 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.
MARYA WELCH INITIATIVE
Named after the former physical education instructor, coach and Dean of Women who founded women's sports on the campus 25 years before the passage of Title IX, the Marya Welch Initiative for Women's Athletics provides comprehensive support for UC Davis' 16 women's athletics programs. Through the support of the Marya Welch Initiative and its group members, student-athletes are provided the best possible opportunity to succeed inside the classroom, and in competition, through special project gifts and by increasing visibility and participation at women's events throughout the year. All gifts to the Marya Welch Initiative are matched 1:1, doubling the impact on our women's programs. Visit https://give.ucdavis.edu/ATHG/324041 for more information.
