DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis women's soccer has added forward Jaycee DeFazio to its roster, head coach Kat Mertz announced. DeFazio, an El Dorado Hills, Calif., native and Davis Legacy SC product, joins the Aggies as a transfer from Cal Poly.

The 5-4 forward arrives in Davis as a redshirt sophomore, returning to her home region as the program prepares for its first season in the Mountain West Conference.

"Jaycee has made an immediate impact on the field in the short time she has been with our team," said Mertz. "We are excited for her experience and are looking forward to watching her develop this fall. She is a threat up top and will add diversity to our front line."

DeFazio brings senior international experience to the Aggie attack. Last summer, she earned a call-up to the Philippines Women's National Team and competed at the Serenity Cup in Vietnam, making her senior international debut in the midfield in a 7-0 victory over Timor-Leste before adding a 1-1 draw against Myanmar. The tournament also marked the first time she shared an international pitch with her older sister, Janae.

In October, DeFazio received a second senior call-up, this time with the Philippines Women's National Futsal Team, training with the squad for two and a half months ahead of the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women's World Cup. The camp took her to the Philippines, Barcelona and Thailand. She was later named to the official Philippine roster for the Southeast Asian Games against Thailand and Myanmar. DeFazio was called in again in February for the 2026 ASEAN Women's Futsal Championship in Thailand, where she earned her first international start in the opening lineup against Australia. The Philippines also faced Myanmar and Vietnam at the tournament.

"One of the most memorable moments of the tournament was having the chance to share the field with my sister, Janae," DeFazio said. "I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunities this journey has given me, from representing the Philippines to visiting four different countries and building lifelong friendships."

As a sophomore at Cal Poly in 2024, DeFazio appeared in 13 matches and registered five shots. As a true freshman in 2023, she played in eight matches and logged 178 minutes for the Mustangs. She tallied her first collegiate goal, assist and point in a 4-0 home win over Cal State Northridge on Oct. 15, a performance that earned her Big West Freshman of the Week honors. She made her collegiate debut in a 2-0 victory at Loyola Marymount on Aug. 27 and posted a season-high 42 minutes in a 1-0 loss at UC Davis on Oct. 19. She finished her freshman campaign with seven shots and an 85.7% shot-on-goal percentage.

Before college, DeFazio was a three-time All-Delta League First Team selection at St. Francis High School in Sacramento, where she earned multiple team Offensive MVP honors. She helped the Troubadours capture back-to-back Delta League titles in 2021 and 2022, leading the league in points and goals. With Davis Legacy SC, DeFazio powered her side to a NW Bay Area Division championship and a Round of 16 appearance in the 2021 ECNL National Playoffs, where she was named to the Best XI.

DeFazio is the fourth transfer added to the 2026 roster, joining Dina Frenkel, Piper Wilkison and Stella Villalta.