DAVIS, Calif. — The Aggies close their home schedule on Thursday night, hosting Hawai'i at 6 p.m. in the program's Kicks Against Cancer match. Before the contest, Head Coach Kat Mertz opened up about her battle with breast cancer and her commitment to spreading awareness.

• UC Davis enters the week 2-11-4 overall and 0-7-1 in Big West play
• Genavieve Fontes leads UC Davis with three goals, including one game-winner
• Sydney Bushman has scored two goals, while Sarah Canavan continues to pace the Aggies with a team-best four assists
• Lisette Gregoris has added two goals, tied with Bushman for second-most on the team
• Ava Coverdale has been one of UC Davis' most active attackers, leading the team with 29 total shots and eight shots on goal, to go along with one goal and one assist
• Goalkeeper Cat Pieper has started all 17 matches, logging 1,350 minutes in goal. She ranks 2nd in the Big West in total saves (65), 7th in save percentage (.774), and has recorded three shutouts
• As a team, UC Davis ranks 3rd in the Big West in saves per game (4.29)
• UC Davis recorded a season-high 20 shots at Loyola Marymount earlier this season
• Redshirt freshman Lakelee Perkins earned Big West Freshman of the Week honors after scoring the match-winner in the Causeway Cup victory at Sacramento State.

• Hawai'i enters the match 3-6-8 overall and 1-2-4 in Big West play
• Tatum Porter leads the Rainbow Wahine with three goals and three assists, totaling a team-high nine points
• Amber Gilbert, Nalani Damacion, and Cate Sheahan each have two goals, while Izzy Ayala and Krista Peterson are tied for second on the team with three assists apiece
• Sheahan remains the most active attacking option, leading the team with 50 total shots and 20 on goal for a 40 percent accuracy rate
• Hawai'i averages 13.1 shots per game and 1.00 goal per match, ranking 7th in the Big West in scoring offense
• The Rainbow Wahine also rank 6th in assists per game (0.94) and 7th in points per game (2.94)
• Defensively, Hawai'i allows 1.47 goals per game and holds a .706 save percentage, sitting 9th in the conference in that category
• The Wahine have recorded three shutouts and rank 7th in the Big West in shutout percentage (.353)

SEASON NOTES

• New Era: First win of the Kat Mertz era came in a 2-1 win on the road at Pacific on Aug. 17.
• Season Opener: The Aggies opened the year with a 1-1 draw against Fresno State, behind a first-career goal from Sydney Bushman
• 2024 Recap: UC Davis went 13-5-2 and finished second in the Big West.
• 2025 Poll: Aggies picked eighth in the Big West preseason coaches' poll (37 points).
• The 2025 season marks the start of a new era for UC Davis women's soccer under head coach Kat Mertz, who brings 26 years of collegiate coaching experience
• Mertz's coaching philosophy centers on creating a competitive environment and embracing the program-wide standard to "find joy" in the work.
• The staff features two new assistants: Emilee Tominovich, a member of the 2024 NCAA Division II National Championship staff at Cal Poly Pomona who leads recruiting and scouting, and Abbie Faingold, a former Portland State and professional goalkeeper who oversees the goalkeeper group and player mentorship.
• All eyes on Genavieve Fontes: The redshirt senior was named to the 2025 Big West Preseason Coaches' Team; United Soccer Coaches Player to Watch; led Big West with 11 goals in 2024 (four game-winners).
• The roster blends a strong returning core highlighted by players such as Fontes, Sarah Canavan, Ashleigh Garcia, Ava Coverdale, Livi Lewis, and Sydney Bushman.
• In addition, Mertz's 2025 squad is highlighted by several newcomers, including transfers Shayna Ross (Colorado State), Courtney Wagner (Cal Poly), Lisette Gregoris (Arizona State), and Kiley Fehrenbacher (Oregon). While Mertz's first incoming freshmen class consists of Jordan Perry, Sierra Cordola, Ava Peterson, Brooklyn Tanon, and Bailey Rakela.
• This is UC Davis' final season in the Big West before joining the Mountain West in 2026.