DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis men's soccer returns home for a crucial two-match Big West homestand this week, debuting its Lake Tahoe-themed kits Wednesday night against UC Santa Barbara before hosting CSUN on Saturday. Both matches are set for 7 p.m. at Aggie Soccer Field.

HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN/FOLLOW
Oct. 8 — vs. UC Santa Barbara | Watch | Live Stats | @ucdavismsoc (X/Instagram)
Oct. 11 — vs. CSUN | Live Stats | @ucdavismsoc (X/Instagram)

GAME NOTES

• UC Davis enters the week 0-6-4 overall and 0-1-1 in Big West play following a 2-1 loss at Cal Poly on ESPNU and a 1-1 draw at UC San Diego
• Chase Tanon scored in the 49th minute at Cal Poly off assists from Andrew Dutra and Gavin House before the Mustangs rallied with two goals to take the win
• House delivered his first career goal in the 80th minute at UC San Diego, assisted by Cason Goodman, while Noah Schwengeler set a career high with eight saves to preserve the draw
• Tanon has two goals this season and ranks 1st in the Big West in shot accuracy (.474) and shots on goal per game (1.00)
• Goodman also has two goals on the season, and is matching Tanon's efforts in the attacking third, ranking tied for 1st in the Big West in shots on goal per game (1.00)
• Lillington has contributed to three goals this season (one goal, two assists)
• UC Davis has recorded 129 total shots across 10 matches (12.9 per game), ranking 3rd in the Big West and 79th nationally
• The Aggies also sit 3rd in the Big West and 61st nationally in corner kicks per game (5.3)
• UC Davis ranks 3rd in the Big West in shot accuracy (.380)
• Defensively, UC Davis holds a 1.60 team goals-against average, ranking 6th in the Big West, with Schwengeler 4th in the league in GAA (1.50) and 5th in save percentage (.707)
• Schwengeler has logged 720 minutes in goal and ranks 7th in the conference in total saves (29)
• Through 10 matches, the Aggies have played four one-goal decisions and recorded four draws, with five different players contributing goals this season

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS

• UC Santa Barbara (6-3-1, 2-0 Big West) enters Saturday's matchup unbeaten in conference play after back-to-back shutout wins last week
• The Aggies defeated UCSB in last year's Big West Championship at Harder Stadium, but the Gauchos own the overall series advantage
• Graduate transfer Buba Fofanah leads UCSB's attack with four goals, including game-winners in each of the Gauchos' first two league contests
• Freshman goalkeeper Owen Beninga has recorded four consecutive shutouts, earning Big West Freshman of the Week honors
• The Gaucho back line has been anchored by Haruki Utsumi, Drew Kamienski, Calle Mollerberg, Eddie Villeda, Jacob Blach, and Colby Renton
• CSUN (6-2-3, 1-1 Big West) visits Aggie Soccer Field Saturday night after splitting its first two conference games
• The Matadors earned a 1-0 win at UC Riverside on an 86th-minute goal from Enrique Pineda before falling 1-0 to Cal State Bakersfield at home
• Goalkeeper Dorian Drucks has been one of the nation's top performers in net, ranking third nationally with seven shutouts through nine games
• Six different Matadors have scored this season, with Pineda and Jorge Solorzano leading the team with two goals apiece
• UC Davis leads the all-time series 13-9-7, with each of the last two meetings (2023 and 2024) ending in draws

SEASON NOTES

• Defending Big West Champions: UC Davis enters 2025 as the reigning Big West Tournament champions after defeating UC Santa Barbara in last year's final. The title marked the program's second in the last five season and the Aggies secured its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance.
• Preseason Honors: Seniors Cason Goodman and Zack Lillington headline the Aggies' preseason accolades. Both were named to the Big West Preseason Coaches' Team and United Soccer Coaches Players to Watch list. Goodman, the 2024 Big West Tournament MVP, scored 11 goals with 25 points, while Lillington anchored the Aggies with 18 starts, one goal, and four assists.
• Hermann Trophy Watchlist: Cason Goodman was named to the 2025 Hermann Trophy Watch List. The Hermann Trophy, presented annually by the Missouri Athletic Club, is considered the top individual award in college soccer and honors the National Player of the Year as voted on by Division I head coaches who are members of United Soccer Coaches. 
• 2025 Big West Poll: The Aggies were picked to finish third in the Big West preseason poll despite receiving the most first-place votes (69 points), narrowly behind UC Santa Barbara (73) and Cal Poly (71).
• National Spotlight: UC Davis will face Cal Poly in a primetime showdown on Oct. 1, live on ESPNU, marking a rematch of last season's Big West semifinal.
• Under the Lights: Aggie Soccer Field hosted its first-ever night matches this spring following the completion of a $4.4 million lighting project shared with Dobbins Baseball Stadium. The defending champions will now officially begin their title defense under permanent lights.
• Program Legacy: UC Davis men's soccer has established itself as one of the Big West's premier programs under head coach Dwayne Shaffer, who enters his 29th season in 2025. Shaffer has guided the Aggies through their transition from Division II to Division I, a period in which the program was not eligible for postseason competition, yet still has elevated the Aggies to national relevance. Under his leadership, UC Davis has made five NCAA Tournament appearances (1999, 2007, 2008, 2019, 2024) and reached five Big West Championship finals in the last seven years. A four-time conference coach of the year, Shaffer has amassed 258 wins at UC Davis and 317 career victories, ranking among the top 15 winningest active Division I coaches.
• Veteran Leadership: The 2025 squad features an experienced senior class led by captains Luke Goodman and Cason Goodman, along with Lillington, Andrew Dutra, Gavin House, Noah Schwengeler, Chase Tanon, and Jason Hsu.
• Rising Talent: Sophomore defender Carson Hammond, a 2024 Big West All-Freshman selection, headlines the strong group of underclassmen expected to play a big role.
• New Additions: UC Davis welcomes 10 newcomers in 2025, blending transfers and freshmen into a 29-man roster.
• Among the 10 newcomers, three of them are transfers in Saul Tecle (Las Positas JC), Ben Elkins (Gonzaga), and Gabriel Sanchez (Sonoma State).
• UC Davis' other newcomers include Derrick Green, Jackson Richardson, Nami Banks, Caelan Kellett, Josh Gault, Cole McLemore, and Kota Brown.
• Associate Head Coach Jason Hotaling returns for his 21st season, recognized nationally among the top assistants in collegiate soccer. He has been instrumental in recruiting, scouting, and goalkeeper development while helping UC Davis to four NCAA Tournament appearances and the program's first Big West double in 2019.
• Assistant Coach Cayden Hotaling joins the Aggies in 2025 after a playing career at Chico State.
• Columbus Crew Star: Former Aggie standout Max Arfsten has emerged as one of the top young American professionals, winning the 2023 MLS Cup with the Columbus Crew, earning a spot in the 2025 MLS All-Star Game, and starring for the U.S. Men's National Team at the Gold Cup.
• Continued Pipeline: Keegan Walwyn-Bent became the latest Aggie to sign professionally in 2025 with The Town FC of MLS Next Pro, continuing a recent pipeline that includes Arfsten, and Ethan Hoard, who recently signed with FK Jedinstvo Ub of the Serbian SuperLiga.
• Developing Professionals: UC Davis has now produced three consecutive classes with professional signees, continuing the program's strong reputation for developing talent that competes at the next level.