DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis field hockey earned six MPSF end-of-season honors, the conference announced Thursday. Senior midfielder Ella Franken was named the MPSF Defensive Player of the Year, while midfielder Charlotte Connally earned MPSF Freshman of the Year honors. Both Franken and Connally were also named to the All-MPSF Team alongside teammates Mia Edwards and Emma Wood.

Senior Ella Franken anchored the UC Davis defense and midfield, starting all 15 regular-season matches and leading the team with 896 minutes played. Franken excelled as a vital two-way player, turning away critical goal-scoring attempts—highlighted by an official goal-line defensive save against No. 1 Northwestern—while spearheading the Aggies' attack with five goals and 13 points on the season. Franken netted her first goal of the season against Stanford (9/27) to score the Aggies' lone tally, and closed out the regular season with a multi-goal performance against Delaware (10/23), scoring both of UC Davis' goals in the first quarter. This is Franken's second career All-MPSF selection and first major conference award.

Freshman Charlotte Connally made an immediate impact in her debut campaign, starting all 15 matches and logging 696 minutes—leading all Aggie freshmen in both games started and total minutes played. Operating in the midfield, Connally provided essential structural stability, positional discipline, and transitional coverage for UC Davis throughout the regular season. This marks Connally's first career All-MPSF selection and Freshman of the Year honor.

Sophomore Mia Edwards earned her first All-MPSF selection after providing key offensive firepower and tactical depth in the UC Davis attack. Edwards appeared in all 15 games, logging 626 total minutes and recording 12 shots on the season. Her marquee performance came against Bellarmine on Sept. 6, where she scored the game-tying goal and converted her shootout attempt to secure the victory, earning MPSF Offensive Player of the Week honors. This is Edwards' first All-MPSF selection.

Sophomore Emma Wood earned All-Conference honors following a standout season on the back line. Wood played in all 15 matches, logging 655 minutes and serving as a steady defensive presence for UC Davis, highlighted by her first career goal against Dartmouth (10/2) to score the lone Aggie goal of the match. This is Wood's first All-MPSF selection.

UC Davis finished the regular season 3-12 overall and earned the No. 2 seed in the 2026 MPSF Championship. The Aggies open postseason play in the semifinals on Friday, Nov. 6 at 9:00 a.m. PT against No. 3 seed Queens in Newark, Delaware. The winner advances to the championship game on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 9:00 a.m. PT to face top-seeded Delaware.

ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS: 
UC Davis Athletics represents one of the nation's premier public universities on the NCAA Division I stage, with more than 650 student-athletes competing across 25 sports, including 16 programs in the Mountain West Conference. Located in California's quintessential college town, UC Davis combines championship-level athletics with the academic excellence of the nation's #8 public research university and is home to the nation's No. 1 programs in agriculture, veterinary medicine and sustainability. With a growing national media presence, bold investments in facilities and the student-athlete experience, and a tradition of developing champions in competition, in the classroom and beyond, the Aggies are elevating UC Davis on a national stage.