USAF Academy, Colo. — UC Davis (2-6-2, 0-1-0 MW) made history Thursday by playing in its first Mountain West Conference competition in any sport but was defeated 3-1 at Air Force (6-2-1, 1-0-0 MW) in the league opener for both teams at Cadet Soccer Stadium.
The Aggies got on the scoreboard first when Kaya Herndon notched her first career goal unassisted on a free kick from just above the top of the penalty box in the 14th minute of the match.
UC Davis held onto its 1-0 lead throughout most of the first half until Jordan Dillingham headed in a corner kick from Annika Jost in the 35th minute to tie the contest at 1-1.
The teams remained tied 1-1 until two early second-half goals by the Falcons provided for the winning margin. Clara Teigland put Air Force ahead for the first time with an unassisted goal in the 50th minute before Lauren Steinlage provided an insurance tally in the 54th on an assist from Addie Doyle.
Neither team would score over the final 36 minutes although UC Davis made things interesting by working into striking distance twice in the last six minutes but a shot from Herndon after a free kick in the 86th minute missed wide left and an Ashley Brewer shot on goal in the 89th was saved by Falcon goalkeeper Sydney Nelms, who picked off five of the Aggies' six shots on goal.
The final team numbers from the contest were close with the Falcons holding slim leads in shots (18-13), shots on goal (8-6) and saves (5-4), as well as a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks. UC Davis had 11 fouls, while Air Force picked up seven.
UC Davis' six shots on goal came from six different players with Herndon being joined by Brewer, Lisette Gregoris, Payton Henry, Lakelee Perkins and Karla Sandoval. Piper Wilkison had four saves.
The Aggies continue their two-match trip to the Centennial state by visiting Colorado College (3-4-3, 1-0 MW) on Sunday for a Noon PT match that will be streamed live by MW+.
UC Davis next returns home to host Wyoming (8-2-0, 1-0-0 MW) in its first-ever Mountain West home match with the 6 p.m. PT contest to be streamed live on MW+. There will be a slew of activities tied to the Wyoming home match with the contest serving as the Davis Community Soccer Game, Faculty & Staff Appreciation and Camper Reunion. Fans in attendance will also receive a UC Davis fanny pack.
Single-game tickets for all UC Davis home games are $10 for Youth (3-13 years old) and $13 for general admission. Flexbooks - packs of 10 tickets redeemable in any combination - are $85. Discounted group tickets are available for groups of 10 or more. For additional information or to purchase tickets, visit ucdavisaggies.evenue.net/, contact the Aggie Ticket Office at (530) 752-2471 or email aggietickets@ucdavis.edu.
Event parking will be honored in Lot 25 and the Pavilion Parking Structure for all home games. The cost for weekday games is $5.50, while weekends are free but both require parking permits. There is construction work in the area and fans should follow posted signage around the Pavilion Parking Structure, Lot 25 and Aggie Soccer Field to enter the venue.
MATCH NOTES
ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS
UC Davis, ranked No. 2 among public universities by the Wall Street Journal in the value of a college degree, is home to 40,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 employees. Ranked top in the United States in agriculture and forestry as well as No. 1 in veterinary medicine, UC Davis is located in a true California college town nestled between world-class destinations such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe. Over 650 Aggie student-athletes compete in 25 Division I varsity sports, with 16 sports transitioning to the Mountain West Conference beginning in 2026–27.
For more information, visit ucdavisaggies.com/.
