Big Step - WSOC signed a veteran goalkeeper from Colorado State, Shayna Ross. 41 gams over 3 years, with a 0.97 goals against average. That compares favorably to graduating senior (now graduate assistant at Oregon with Tracy Joyner), Caeley Goldstein's 1.06 goals against over 61 games.

Looks like a great get!

The UCD Women’s Soccer Team begins preseason practice at the end of the month, and opens the season at home against Fresno State on August 14. New coach Kat Mertz and her staff will welcome 25 players, including All Big West Honorees Genevieve Fontes (1st Team - Midfield) and Sarah Canavan (Honorable Mention - Forward ), both redshirt seniors.

Hoping to build off the success of the last two seasons in both of which the Aggies finished 2nd in regular season play and reached the Big West Tournament Semifinal, Mertz faces a significant rebuilding task. Not only did Davis lose key graduating seniors, but several other top contributors followed departed coach Tracey Hamm to the University of Oregon, as did three of the Aggies’ 2025 commits.

Departed Players:

Goalkeeper Caeley Goldstein (graduate) played every minute for the Aggies the last 3 years, saving 80% of Shots on Goal and recording a 1.06 Goals Against average. That included 19 clean sheets in 57 games. Goldstein was originally hired as a graduate assistant at Oregon but was recently granted an 6th year of eligibility. She will likely start in goal for the Ducks.
2024 All West 2nd Team

Goalkeeper Gia Kiesling (redshirt freshman) did not play in her only season at UCD, but had Goldstein not been granted the additional year of eligibility, may well have been the starting keeper for the Ducks this season.

Defender Jayde Holley (redshirt senior). Holley missed the 2023 season due to injury. Otherwise she started 55 games (of 57) over her 3 years on the pitch, averaging 85 mpg.
2021 Big West Conference All-Freshman Team
2021 All-Big West Conference 2nd Team
2022 All-Big West Conference 1st Team
2022 All West Region 3rd Team
2024 All Big West Conference 1st Team
2024 All West 1st Team

Defender Taylor Dever (senior) played in 40 of 58 games during her 3 years at Davis, including starting all 20 last season, in which she averaged 88 mpg.

Defender Elise Picard (redshirt sophomore) started 22 consecutive games for the Aggies, averaging 76 mpg, before going down with a season-ending injury in the 3rd game last season.
2023 Big West Conference All-Freshman Team

What might have been the Aggie defense is completely decimated. Holley, Dever, Picard and graduated senior Bella Mayo (who played every minute) were the Aggies’ starting backline in front of Goldstein for every game last season, until Picard was injured.

Midfielder Abella Hunter (sophomore) played in all 20 games in her only season as an Aggie, averaging 46 mpg. Hunter for third leading scorer for Davis with 4 goals.
2024 Big West Conference All-Freshman Team

Recruits Who Recommitted to Oregon:

Forward Miya Alamares - Davis HS/Davis Legacy. 3-Star prospect/Top Drawer Soccer. Was in camp with the U.S. National U-17 team that finished third at the 2024 FIFA World Cup.

Forward Selah Simms - 3-Star prospect/Top Drawer Soccer. Liberty HS (Brentwood)/Lamorinda SC. 4 year track letter winner (sprints & hurdles); North Coast Meet of Champions qualifier.

Forward Addison Boyer - Oak Harbor WA/Seattle United. 3-Star Prospect/Top Drawer Soccer. Club team was ECNL champion in 2023-24 & 2023 Surf Cup Best of the Best finalist. 4 year state qualifier in track (sprints).

Given her relatively late hire, Mertz had little time (or choice) to recruit from the transfer portal or rebuild the recruiting class, though she was able to bring in some new faces in each category. The upside for this season’s roster is it’s a completely new slate. Players who didn’t get much time on the pitch will have an opportunity to step up, as will the incoming freshmen.