DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis women's soccer head coach Kat Mertz has announced the addition of three transfers to the program's roster as the Aggies continue to build depth and experience ahead of next season's transition to the Mountain West Conference.
"We are excited to add three transfers to our program this winter," said Mertz. "Our goalkeeping unit is strengthened with the addition of Piper and Dina, both of whom bring valuable collegiate experience. I'm looking forward to watching them develop, compete, and elevate our goalkeeper group. We've also added Stella to our back line—she brings international experience along with two years at a highly competitive collegiate program and will be an immediate asset to our defense."
Dina Frenkel GK • San Francisco, Calif. (Purdue / St. Ignatius College Prep / MVLA 06G Roma & Oakland Soul SC) Frenkel comes to Davis from Purdue. A highly decorated goalkeeper, she brings a winning pedigree from her time with MVLA 06G Roma, where she helped secure three consecutive conference titles across the ECNL Northwest-Bay and NorCal conferences from 2021-23. A 2023 WCAL First Team All-League selection and the Firebird Classic MVP, Frenkel posted nine shutouts in 17 games during 2023 as well. She also brings ODP experience, having been a West Regional Camp selection in 2021. In the classroom, Frenkel was named to the honor roll from 2020-24.
Piper Wilkison GK • Newport Beach, Calif. (Butler / Mater Dei HS / West Coast FC) Wilkison joins the Aggies as a transfer from Butler, where she saw action in three matches during her redshirt-freshman campaign in 2025. She recorded three saves against Georgetown and was credited with a combined shutout against IU Indy. Prior to her collegiate career, the Mater Dei graduate played for West Coast FC, anchoring a defense that won the 2023 Surf Cup without allowing a single goal. Her club side also captured the 2022 West Coast Fútbol Classic title and finished third nationally in the Girls Academy League in 2021. Exceptional in the classroom, Wilkison graduated summa cum laude from Mater Dei as a National Honor Society member.
Stella Villalta D • London, England (Santa Clara / The American International School in England / Tottenham Hotspur Women WSL Academy) Villalta arrives from Santa Clara with significant international experience, having represented the Nicaraguan National Team at the U20 and U17 levels, with a recent call-up to the senior First Team. Before her collegiate career, she developed her game in England, playing for the Tottenham Hotspur Women FC WSL Academy—where she earned a first-team call-up against Leicester City—and the Arsenal FC U16 Academy. During her time with Ascot United FC, she was named both the Manager's and Players' Player of the Year. Off the pitch, Villalta is the founder of "Kicks for Kindness," a charity coordinating soccer gear donations for Nicaragua, and finished high school with a 4.2 GPA.
