DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis women's soccer continues Big West play at Aggie Soccer Field this week, hosting UC San Diego on Thursday night and Long Beach State on Sunday afternoon.

• UC Davis enters the week with a 2-7-4 record overall and an 0-3-1 mark in Big West play
• Thursday night will be UC Davis Women's Soccer's Unity Game, while Sunday, the Aggies will debut their Lake Tahoe themed jerseys as well as host Adopt-a-Pet Day at Aggie Soccer Field
• Genavieve Fontes leads the Aggies with three goals, and one game-winner
• Sydney Bushman has added two goals, while Sarah Canavan has a team-high three assists
• Ava Coverdale has been one of the most active attackers, recording a team-high 27 shots this season to go along with one goal and one assist
• In goal, Cat Pieper has started every match, recording 45 saves (4th in the Big West) and three shutouts. She ranks top-10 in the league with a 1.09 goals-against average and .789 save percentage
• The Aggies rank 3rd in the Big West in saves per game (4.08)
• Offensively, the Aggies recorded a season-high 20 shots earlier this year at Loyola Marymount
• UC Davis has earned recognition this season as redshirt freshman Lakelee Perkins was named Big West Freshman of the Week after scoring the winner in the Causeway Cup victory at Sacramento State

• UC San Diego enters 2-5-5 overall and 0-2-1 in the Big West, most recently playing unbeaten CSUN to a scoreless draw while taking a season-high 20 shots
• The Tritons rank 2nd in the conference in shot accuracy (.481) and 1st in saves per game (4.67), with goalkeeper Charlotte Wilfert tallying five shutouts and a league-best 53 saves
• Long Beach State stands at 5-5-3 overall and 2-1-2 in league play, carrying a six-match unbeaten streak
• The Beach lead the Big West in shot accuracy (.547) and shots on goal per game (6.82), paced by Radisson Banks, the league leader in both categories, and Ameera White, who has five assists and a Freshman of the Week honor
• Goalkeeper Aurora Schuck has three shutouts and made a key penalty save in a draw with UC Irvine
• All-time, Long Beach State leads the series 12-7-2, but UC Davis has won three straight meetings

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.