Davis, Calif. - In the first half of UC Davis' home game against CSU Bakersfield on Oct. 13, Molly Branigan stepped out near the home sideline for a throw in and quickly surveyed the other half of the field, where a voice called out "I've got you." 

That voice was Lindsey Porter jockeying for position on the Roadrunners' side of the field and few players would be more capable of knowing where Branigan would want to go with the ball than Porter. 

The two have been playing together since they were 10 after all and Branigan's mother is Porter's godmother. 

"We met from playing against each other but it was more friendly so you could meet the people on the other teams," Porter explained. "I think our parents met in the stands because we met and I said 'I want to come play for your team Molly.'"

The two continued to play on youth teams and eventually at St. Francis High School in Sacramento but playing together in college wasn't the plan. 

Both had different opportunities to consider, though they wound up crossing over in Santa Barbara briefly in 2019 with Branigan transferring to UC Davis after the fall semester at Santa Barbara City College while Porter was in her freshman year at UC Santa Barbara. 

"We weren't really focused on going to the same school because we spent so much time together already," Porter explains. "It was kind of like sisters trying to go to different schools."

After the 2021 season, Porter began to explore transferring and it was an easier decision with how much Branigan enjoyed her Aggie experience with Head Coach Tracy Hamm. 

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Porter says now. "Obviously transferring to a new team is scary and it's a fresh start. But knowing I had Molly, I had a sister on the team no matter what."

In 2022, they've started 12 games together and team to create a valuable piece of UC Davis' midfield. While both play a significant role in possession and why UC Davis continue to have results like Oct. 13's against the Roadrunners, when UC Davis spent 65 percent of regulation in CSU Bakersfield territory, they're also having career offensive years. 

Porter scored her first career goal at UC San Diego on Oct. 2 on a strike from the edge of the penalty box and Branigan has surpassed her single season career-high with two assists. 

"No matter what Molly knows where I'm going to pass the ball and I know if she's open even I don't look at her," Porter said. 

On Porter's goal in La Jolla, it was Branigan who stole a short UC San Diego goal kick and was able to pass to Porter, who found space to drive inside the penalty box. 

"I think once you play with certain players for long enough you get to know their style of play," said Branigan. "It gets much easier to play with them so us having played when we were younger and in high school has definitely had benefits to playing in the college game." 

Now with the two playing a major role in UC Davis being in position to earn a playoff spot with three games to go in the season, their families will hope to have a few extra games to watch after the Aggies' last regular season game on Oct. 27. 

"I think soccer has always been a thing that brings people together," Branigan said. "Our families can hang out at games and go to dinners but I think even if we're not talking about our case, soccer brings people together."