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DAVIS, Calif. — With the team's 2021 spring opener quickly approaching, UC Davis field hockey's coaching staff announced the program's five-member Leadership Group, which includes Audrey Matthew and Izzy Porco as team captains, in addition to vice captains Emily Chen, Madison Theodore and Brooke Sanchez.

"I was really excited that the team saw me as someone they can look up to and lead them since I embraced that role throughout the last few years," said Matthew.

Added Chen, "It is an honor to become part of the Leadership Group because there are a lot of individuals on this team who have strong leadership skills. It means a lot to me to hold this role, especially since this is my final year at UC Davis."
 
In a typical season, team captains play a crucial role in leading by example, both on and off the turf, and providing the intangibles that can maximize their teammates' potential. For UC Davis and other schools across the nation, this is anything but a typical season, which enhances the influence of this year's Group.

For program newcomers, the Leadership Group will play a key role in helping them embrace the program's culture and enhance their UC Davis experience.

"I want to be a resource, and available for younger teammates to turn to if they need help with anything during the season. If they are struggling with classes or trying to balance everything, those challenges are easier to manage when [the Leadership Group] is available to help," said Porco.
 
Instead of being one of the first teams each academic year to begin play, the Aggies will start their spring slate in latter weeks of the winter quarter and compete throughout the first half of the spring term. Unlike a traditional season, this year's field hockey student-athletes will need to prepare for competition and finals as the same time.

The Aggies will also hit the ground running since a condensed schedule will force them to play 10 regular season games in seven weeks — which includes six games against East Coast-based America East Conference opponents – instead of 16-20 over a few months.

For matchups taking place across the country, the Aggies will play three road or neutral-site games during each of their two trips.
 
"One of my big roles on the leadership team is helping everyone transition from this long period and lull, where everyone was training and did not know if a season would ever take place, to helping everyone change their mindset and prepare appropriately for each game," said Theodore.
 
Even though the America East Conference initially announced its Return to Competition Plan last October for fall sports, the reality of the Aggies' situation truly hit home once an official schedule was announced. With the season now slated to start at home on March 7 vs. Cal, every Aggie is looking forward to participating in official games.
 
"One of our biggest goals is to compete and show everyone what we are all about. We are excited to showcase what we have been working on throughout the last few months and let that hard work lead us to success," explained Chen.
 
Field hockey fans have every reason to feel excited about the upcoming season based on what took place during the Aggies' last season of competition, which ended in November of 2019. In addition to improving its win total for the third straight year, UC Davis posted the highest win-loss percentage in program history and saw three players earn America East All-Conference accolades.
 
The challenges this year's team will face are not limited to the field; in addition to practices and workouts, each student-athlete must balance their athletic responsibilities with academic coursework at the fifth-ranked public school in the nation, which will take place primarily online.
 
Said Sanchez: "If someone, or a group of people are having a hard time at practice, feel stressed about school or whatever else is taking place in their life, I am the type of person who is approachable, can offer advice to anyone seeking it, or lend an ear if they need someone to turn to."

Added Porco, "When I was a freshman and sophomore, I looked up to the upperclassmen. I watched how my older teammates used their time wisely after practice to study, click into practice mode when they arrived for workouts and click into a different mindframe when it was time to focus on classes again." 
 
As important as it is to hone their individual and collective skills, Leadership Group members also value the importance of strengthening the team's chemistry and culture, especially for the program's freshmen who are adjusting to the academic and athletic rigors faced by a Division I student-athlete for the first time in their college careers.
 
"On and off the field, everyone enjoys spending time with one another, knows when it's appropriate to have fun, and when it is time to take things seriously," said Theodore. "I am encouraging my teammates to work hard and enjoy each day since COVID can take this season away from us at any moment.

"We are grateful for every moment shared with one another, which is why we are going to play each game as if it was our last."




ABOUT UC DAVIS
Over 700 student-athletes across 25 intercollegiate athletics teams, following the addition of equestrian and women's beach volleyball in 2018, are enrolled in 71 of more than 100 academic programs at the fifth-ranked public school in the nation.
 
Centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe and the Napa Valley, UC Davis is known nationwide as a leader in Title IX gender equity and leadership, ranks annually in the top 10 in diversity and students' social mobility and offers an unrivaled student-athlete experience that features the ideal combination of elite academics, Division I athletics and personal growth.
 
UC Davis is uncommonly committed to preparing student-athletes for life after graduation with Aggie EVO — an innovative student-athlete outcomes program that helps young women and men develop passions, gain real-world experience, and enjoy a successful launch to full-time employment or graduate school. Through Aggie EVO, Intercollegiate Athletics provides unmatched resources and a vast network of working professionals to ensure post-graduation success for its student-athletes.