The UC Davis women's soccer team opened the 2026‑27 season in spectacular fashion, posting a 2‑0 victory over Fresno State that also marked the program's first official match in the Mountain West Conference and the earliest season opener in school history.
A Debut to Remember
From the opening whistle the Aggies pressed forward, and a quick rebound off a shot by Ashley Brewer fell to Jaycee DeFazio, who slotted the ball past the goalkeeper to put Davis on the board.
The second half saw Payton Henry convert a corner kick that doubled the lead, while rookie Kiley Fehrenbacher celebrated her first career goal, sealing a comfortable margin.
Between the lines, first‑year goalkeeper Dina Frenkel, a transfer from Purdue, commanded the backline for the full 90 minutes, recording four saves in the opening 47 minutes and preserving a clean sheet.
Head coach Kat Mertz, now in her 20th year of collegiate head coaching, praised the team's cohesion and highlighted the win as a positive indicator for the weeks ahead.
The triumph also extends the Aggies' all‑time edge over Fresno State to 5‑3‑1, with three of those meetings held in Fresno, underscoring the historical context of the rivalry.
Looking forward, the Aggies will carry this momentum into their Mountain West slate, hoping the early chemistry translates into a competitive season as they aim to build on this promising start.