RENO, Nev. — UC Davis (6-10-3, 4-5-1 MW) finished a much-improved season with a 1-0 loss at Nevada (5-13-1, 2-7-1 MW) in a Mountain West match Saturday at Mackay Stadium. The Aggies' six wins in their second season under head coach Kat Mertz doubled their win total from a year ago and their four conference wins in their first campaign in the Mountain West were three more than their single win in the Big West a year ago.
"I am incredibly proud of the growth of this team throughout the season," Mertz said. "We faced adversity, challenges and moments that tested us, but time and time again this group found a way to respond. Our ability to overcome those challenges was a reflection of the commitment, trust and genuine care our players have for one another. That is something special, and it is the foundation of what we are building."a
"While we are proud of how far we've come, we know there is more ahead of us," Mertz added. "We are excited about the future and committed to continuing to push toward the top of the Mountain West. The journey is just beginning, and we look forward to what lies ahead for Aggie soccer."
The Aggies had a two-game unbeaten streak heading into Saturday's season finale and were coming off a wild 3-2 victory over UTEP on Senior Day at Aggie Soccer Field last Sunday.
Nevada scored the only goal of Saturday's contest at the 30:05 mark when Leslie Jacobo Duran finished a play by beating Cat Pieper to a rolling ball and kicking it around the Aggie goalkeeper into the net. The play began with a long goal kick from Nevada goalkeeper Mia Collins that bounced high and far off the turf. Charlotte Bonney and Carmen Coronado were credited with assists on the play.
Nevada outshot UC Davis, 12-6, while both teams had five shots on goal.
Pieper had three of her four saves after the Wolf Pack goal to keep the Aggies within a single score, while Collins turned the Aggies away five times to record the clean sheet.
Following their final match with the program, Mertz emphasized her gratitude for the program's nine seniors (Savannah Cordero, McKayla Farrell, Sydnie Fong, Ashleigh Garcia, Charlotte Henness, Livi Lewis, Cat Pieper, Karla Sandoval, Viet-Thy Tran).
"Congratulations to an incredible group of seniors on their careers and the legacy they leave behind," Mertz said. "They have truly embodied what it means to be an Aggie. Their commitment, passion and belief in UC Davis and this soccer program have helped move our program forward and set a standard for those who follow."
MATCH NOTES
- UC Davis doubled its win total from 2025 with six and exceeded its goal total from a year ago by seven with 18 after picking up 11 in 19 contests a year ago.
- D Kiley Fehrenbacher, F Lakelee Perkins, D Courtney Wagner and D Sydnie Fong each started all 19 Aggies' matches in 2026.
- D Kiley Fehrenbacher extended her consecutive matches started streak to 38, including all UC Davis matches possible in the last two seasons with 19 in both campaigns. Fehrenbacher played in all 90 minutes for the 18th time in 19 contests this season and ended the year playing in 1691 of 1710 possible minutes
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 No. 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.
For more information, visit ucdavisaggies.com.
