DAVIS, Calif. – UC Davis enter a critical period in its season, looking for some vital points with just three matches remaining on the schedule. The Aggies will travel to Cal State Bakersfield for a midweek clash before taking on UC San Diego on the weekend.
 
It will be a race to reach the top six as those six sides will compete in the Big West Conference Tournament in November. The Aggies are currently tied for the number-six spot with seven points during their 2023 campaign, meaning the next two contests will have massive playoff implications.
 
Oct. 18 vs. Cal State Bakersfield | 7 p.m. Kickoff (Bakersfield, Calif.)
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Oct. 21  at UC San Diego | 7 p.m. Kickoff (La Jolla, Calif.)
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AGGIES' STRUGGLES AT HOME CONTINUE
UC Davis has only won once at Aggie Soccer Field this season and the struggles continued last week as the Aggies dropped points in a 1-1 against CSUN before suffering a tough 3-0 defeat to UC Riverside on the weekend.
In the midweek contest, UC Davis netted the opening goal, but CSUN hit back for a second-half equalizer and points would be shared. It was a frustrating day for the Aggies on Saturday afternoon, suffering a 3-0 defeat to UC Riverside on home ground, finishing the match with just 10 men.
 
Two first-half goals stunned the Aggies as the hosts were unable to find any sort of rhythm. Tensions boiled over in the second half when a red card was shown, and the home side would be forced to play down a man for the last 35 minutes of the contest. Shortly after the sending off, the Highlanders quickly wrapped things up with their third goal to earn all three points.
 
ABOUT THE ROADRUNNERS
With its title hopes still alive, Cal State Bakersfield will play host to the Aggies for an important conference clash on Wednesday night. The second-place Roadrunners have posted an impressive 7-3-4 record (3-2-1 Big West) and currently sit on 10 points in the conference table. They boast the best defense in the Big West, conceded just nine goals in 14 matches. Cal State Bakersfield ranks top-10 in the nation in both clean sheets and save percentage.
 
ABOUT THE TRITONS
Level on points with the Roadrunners is UC San Diego as UC Davis will take part in another intriguing contest. Despite sputtering in their nonconference schedule, the Tritons have been bright in Big West play posting a 3-2-1 record to this point. UCSD is coming off back-to-back victories over UC Riverside and Cal State Bakersfield and will look to make it three straight wins on Wednesday at CSUN. La Jolla's team has scored the third-most goals in the conference (21) but have leaked in the second-most with 26 goals allowed this year. Inaki Iribarren ranks second in goals-scored with eight in 2023.
 
SERIES NOTES
UC Davis has won seven of the last eight matchups against the Roadrunners, including each of the last two meetings. The Aggies hold a narrow 12-11-3 advantage in the all-time series and look to make it three consecutive wins on Wednesday.
 
The Aggies have only faced UC San Diego six times, earning just one win from those six matchups. The Tritons were victorious in last season's clash in La Jolla and UC Davis has struggled to find the back of the net in the series, scoring just three goals. 
 
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Charles Janssen was named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week following his incredible goalkeeping display during the opening weekend. Against Ohio State, he was likely the man of the match after his sparkling display between the posts. His six saves were vital in the effort to maintain the lead, flashing a couple tremendous saves in the closing minutes to keep the hosts at bay. The redshirt junior also unbelievably provided an assist for the game-winning goal, launching a beautiful goal kick to spark an attack.
 
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