DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis midfielder/forward Sam Tristan was named Big West Offensive Player of the Year, highlighting seven Aggies who received Big West awards for UC Davis during a historic 2024 season, the conference announced Saturday.
 
Tristan, along with redshirt juniors Genavieve Fontes and Jayde Holley, accounted for UC Davis' All-Big West First Team selections.
 
Senior Emma Vane secured a spot on the All-Big West Second Team, while Abella Hunter was named to the All-Freshman Team, making it nine consecutive seasons in which UC Davis was represented on the All-Freshman Team.
 
Also receiving honorable mentions were senior defender Bella Mayo and redshirt junior forward Sarah Canavan.
 
Tristan is only the second Aggie to win an end-of-season individual All-Big West award, following in the footsteps of Leslie Fregoso, who was named Midfielder of the Year last season. Tristan becomes the first Aggie to win Offensive Player of the Year after a season in which she scored 10 goals and provided four assists, leading the conference in shots on goal with 25 and points with 24.
 
During her standout 2024 campaign, Tristan also received two Big West Offensive Player of the Week honors and etched her name into the record books, becoming just the third Aggie to score 10 or more goals in a single season during UC Davis' Division I era. She scored goals in nine different games, achieved a goal and an assist in the same game three times, and notably recorded a brace against Pacific on Aug. 25.
 
Another Aggie making history was Fontes, who, along with Tristan, became one of only three Aggies to score 10 or more goals in a single season, leading the entire conference with 11 goals, including four game-winners. After being named National Player of the Week on Sept. 17, Fontes was recognized nationally again by being included on the National Top 100 Midseason rankings, representing the only Big West player to be featured. This is Fontes' first All-Big West end-of-season honor.
 
Assisting on many of Fontes' goals this season was Holley, who earns All-Big West First Team honors for the second time in her career. Leading the conference in assists with eight, which ties UC Davis' single-season Division I era record, Holley has been instrumental not only in UC Davis' top-ranked scoring offense in the conference but also as a key part of the Aggie backline, playing a part in seven of UC Davis' eight shutouts this season.
 
Representing UC Davis on the Second Team was Vane, earning her second All-Big West award of her career. Her skill in the midfield led to four goals and two assists while serving as a key contributor to possession in every game. Her end-to-end efforts helped UC Davis record the largest goal differential within the Big West.
 
Hunter, a Santa Rosa native, was a standout for UC Davis during Big West action. Her four goals during conference play tied for the most among Aggie teammates. Two of her goals during conference play were game-winners. Hunter was also named Big West Freshman of the Week once this season, earning the honor on Sept. 30.
 
Rounding out the Aggie honorees are Canavan and Mayo with honorable mentions.
 
Mayo was one of the most important Aggies all season for Head Coach Tracy Joyner's squad, playing every minute this season and leading the team defensively. She played a part in eight Aggie shutouts, including three consecutive clean sheets to help secure the No. 2 seed for UC Davis. Mayo also scored the game-winning goal against UC Riverside and finished the season strong by recording two of her three assists in UC Davis' dominating finale over CSUN.
 
Canavan, like Mayo, finished the season strong, scoring her first goal of the season against CSUN in the finale while also adding five total assists on the season, which ranked tied for third in the conference. Canavan's connective passing and aggressive presence in the Aggie attack were key to setting up goals all season. She recorded assists in four games this season, highlighted by her two-assist performance against Utah Valley.
 
For Joyner and UC Davis, the seven selections to the end-of-season awards list are the most in program history, fitting for a season that saw the Aggies break the single-season Division I era win record.
 
After securing the No. 2 seed, the Aggies will continue their season at the Big West Championship, awaiting the winner of the No. 3/6 seed game. The Aggies are scheduled for kickoff next Thursday, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. PT in Hawai'i.
 

2024 Big West Conference Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Sam Tristan, UC Davis
Midfielder of the Year: Nalani Damacion, Hawai'i
Defensive Player of the Year: Jacey Jicha, Hawai'i
Goalkeeper of the Year: Kennedy Justin, Hawai'i
Freshman of the Year: Devin Greer, UC Santa Barbara
Coach of the Year: Michelle Nagamine, Hawai'i

All-Big West First Team
Emma Brown, Cal Poly
Emilie Castagna, UC Irvine
Emily Caughey, UC Santa Barbara
Kassandra Ceja, Long Beach State
Isabella Cruz, Cal State Fullerton
Nalani Damacion, Hawai'i
Genavieve Fontes, UC Davis
Devin Greer, UC Santa Barbara
Jayde Holley, UC Davis
Jacey Jicha, Hawai'i
Kennedy Justin, Hawai'i
Kaylee Noble, Cal State Fullerton
Sam Tristan, UC Davis

All-Big West Second Team
Maddie Buckley, UC Santa Barbara
Laila El Behery, UC Irvine
Alice Davidson, Hawai'i
Makayla Demelo, Long Beach State
O'Callaghan Liu, UC Santa Barbara
Brynn Mitchell, Hawai'i
Kaylin Raibon, Cal State Fullerton
Kiera Smeenge, UC Irvine
Taya Townsell, Cal State Fullerton
Emma Vane, UC Davis
Liz Worden, Long Beach State

All-Freshman Team
Isabella Contreras, Cal State Fullerton
Nalani Damacion, Hawai'i
Alice Davidson, Hawai'i
Amelia "Mimi" Dominguez, UC Riverside
Devin Greer, UC Santa Barbara
Abella Hunter, UC Davis
Kennedy Justin, Hawai'i
Kayden Perigo, CSUN
Leilah Raad, UC San Diego
Miah Thomas, Cal State Bakersfield
Ivy Williams, UC Irvine

Honorable Mentions
F – Sarah Canavan (UC Davis); Amelia "Mimi" Dominguez (UC Riverside); Kimberly Garcia (Cal State Bakersfield); Amber Gilbert (Hawai'i); Jessie Halladay (Cal Poly); Courtney Hilliard (UC San Diego); Cailey Jackson (CSUN); Kate Reedy (Cal Poly); Cate Sheahan (Hawai'i); Annika Smith (Cal Poly); MF – Emma Corcoran (UC Santa Barbara); Skylar Enge (UC San Diego); Desiree Mendoza (UC Irvine); Sophia Minnite (Cal Poly); Julia Moore (Long Beach State); Kailey Park (UC San Diego); Yoshi Rubalcava (CSUN); Sara Ybarra (Cal State Bakersfield); D – Camryn Borg (UC San Diego); Paige Califf (CSUN); Angelica Claiborne (CSUN); Marissa Gargia (Long Beach State); Bella Mayo (UC Davis); Leilah Raad (UC San Diego); Paige Rodriguez (Cal State Bakersfield); Sofie Rodriguez (UC Santa Barbara); GK – Kamy Anaya (Cal State Bakersfield); Allee Grashoff (UC Riverside); Ashley Naylor (UC Irvine); Ranson (Cal State Fullerton); Mackenzie Samuel (Cal Poly)