DAVIS, Calif. – UC Davis field hockey enters 2024 with a fresh energy, having spent the summer bonding as a group in South Africa the Aggies look to showcase that new sense of Aggie Pride throughout the upcoming season.
"This year I am really excited about continuing the growth of the program and what we are building," said head coach Austin Pile. "We had a tremendous experience this summer in South Africa and we want to continue that momentum and excitement into the season."
The Aggies open the season with four straight home games, starting with the season opener against Michigan State on Aug. 30 (12 p.m.). UC Davis then welcomes Northeastern on Sept. 6, Kent State on Sept. 8 and Stanford to round out the home opening stretch. UC Davis then hits the road, first down to the bay where they will visit former conference foe Cal on Sept. 15. Davis then hits the skies and heads to Vermont on Sept. 20 for their American East opening. On Sept. 22 the Aggie face off against No. 20 UAlbany in another conference matchup, concluding the Aggies' first road trip of the season.
On Sept. 29 Davis makes a quick stop at Aggie Field Hockey Facility when on Sept. 29 they welcome another former conference member in Cal.
The meeting with Cal marks the last time UC Davis will play at home for the next five matches. Starting with an east coast swing to New Hampshire on Oct. 4 and Maine on Oct. 6. The two games in the eastern time zone also double as conference games. UC Davis then heads to the midwest with a meeting first at No. 6 Iowa on Oct. 18, followed by a visit to No. 1 Northwestern on Oct. 20. The Ags wrap up the cross country road trip with a stop at Ball State on Oct. 22.
No. 7 Louisville visits Davis on Oct. 27 in what also doubles as senior day for the Aggies in the final home game of the season. UC Davis then heads back east for its final two games. The Ags will finish things off with a weekend in New England, facing Bryant on Nov. 1 and wrapping the regular season up on Nov. 3 at UMASS Lowell in a pair of conference battles.
While UC Davis finished last year with an overall record of 2-14, the Aggies UC Davis return 14 players who earned starts in 2023, including Liselotte Koop, Skylar Richards, and Caroline Stutte who started in all 16 games. As well as Sarah Lopez in the goal and second goal-scoring leader Audrey Lee in the forward position. There are also seven returning NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad members looking to succeed on and off the field.
This gives the Aggies a corps of players who know the challenges they are facing in a tough American East schedule and they are prepared to take on the non-conference squads as well.
Joining the experienced group of returning Aggies are seven talented freshmen. Oona Buckley, Larissa Roldan, Elle Louise Kocmond, MK Lutz, Jamie Dempsey, Emma Robbins and Annabelle Strange make up a strong incoming class that adds to the squad's foundation.
Assistant coach Izzy Porco, enter her second season at Davis, feels that, "Being a part of the development here at Davis the last handful of years has been nothing short of amazing. With the field hockey IQ of our returners, skill of our newcomers, and confidence coming off of an undefeated run in South Africa, we're expecting a really great year!"
Assistant coach Rachel Stauffer, adds, "I love that I get to come to work and coach this group of amazing student-athletes and I just can't wait to see what they accomplish together".
