Men’s Soccer Opens 2026 Season With Familiar Rivals

DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis men’s soccer opens its 2026 season at 5 p.m. Thursday at Causeway rival Sacramento State, then hosts Cal Poly in its home opener at 7 p.m. Sunday at Aggie Soccer Field as the Aggies begin their first season as a Mountain West Conference member.

Head coach Dwayne Shaffer enters his 30th season at UC Davis with 269 career NCAA victories, a total that ranks 17th among active Division I men’s soccer head coaches. Associate head coach Jason Hotaling returns for his 22nd season with the program, and assistant coach Cayden Hotaling is in his second year on staff.

Shaffer brings a 28-player roster into the new league, with 16 returners joining 12 newcomers after nine seniors graduated from the 2025 team.

“Collectively, it’s an athletic group,” Shaffer said. “We’ve been able to add some really good pure soccer players with what I would consider high-level soccer IQs. Overall, I’m very excited about the group.”

A LOOK BACK AT LAST SEASON

• UC Davis went 4-3-2 in its final Big West campaign, finished 3-0-1 at home in conference play and reached the tournament semifinals.
• The Aggies won their quarterfinal at Cal State Fullerton, 5-4 on penalty kicks after a scoreless 110 minutes, and averaged 15.3 shots per match on the season, ranking 21st nationally and second in the Big West.
• Nine seniors graduated from that team, a group that included multiple starters around the pitch, and All-Big West selections Cason Goodman, Luke Goodman and Zack Lillington.

NEW ERA FOR AGGIE SOCCER

• UC Davis joins Air Force, Grand Canyon, San Jose State, UNLV and Utah Tech in the six-team league, as the Mountain West becomes the first NCAA Division I conference to add men’s soccer since 2023. Each member will play a home-and-away round robin for a 10-match conference slate, with all six schools opening league play Sept. 26.
• The Aggies arrive in the Mountain West after winning Big West Tournament championships in 2019 and 2024, the latter earning the program’s most recent NCAA Tournament berth. UC Davis was picked third in the Mountain West’s first preseason coaches’ poll with 15 points, behind Grand Canyon and San Jose State, which totaled 22 apiece.
• The inaugural Mountain West Men’s Soccer Championship runs Nov. 8-14, while the NCAA Tournament begins Nov. 19 and concludes with the College Cup on Dec. 14.

“For me, it’s exciting,” Shaffer said. “It’s a new, fresh conference for us to enter and compete in.”

THE SCHEDULE

• UC Davis closes August with road matches at Pacific (Aug. 27) and preseason No. 9 Stanford (Aug. 30), then makes a two-match trip to Seattle to open September, visiting Seattle University on Sept. 3. That match is followed up with a meeting against reigning National Champions, and No. 1 Washington on Sept. 5. The Aggies played to a 1-1 draw at Washington last season. San Francisco visits Davis on Sept. 12 before the nonconference schedule closes Sept. 19 at Saint Mary’s.
• Mountain West play opens Sept. 26 at San Jose State, and the Aggies host their first conference match in program history four days later when Air Force visits Davis on Sept. 30. Grand Canyon, ranked No. 21, comes to Aggie Soccer Field on Oct. 10, giving UC Davis three preseason top-25 opponents in all. The complete 2026 schedule is available online.

“My philosophy has always been that we’ll play anybody, anywhere, any day,” Shaffer said. “The players and the program want to play soccer at the highest level. Having the opportunity to play the best nationally ranked programs in the country year in and year out is a goal of mine. I want to put my student-athletes in that position to compete with everyone.”

FROM DAVIS TO THE WORLD CUP

• Former Aggie Max Arfsten, the 2021 Big West Offensive Player of the Year, represented the United States at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and made his tournament debut in the Round of 16 against Belgium. Lillington became the highest MLS SuperDraft selection in program history in December, when St. Louis CITY SC took him seventh overall, surpassing the 14th-overall selection that sent Arfsten to the Columbus Crew in 2023.

“During my coaching career, I’ve been able to identify players that have exceptional talent,” Shaffer said. “My job is to put them in a position to continue to grow and succeed at the highest level. If they keep doing the right things and they keep training and performing well, they’re going to get noticed by the pro scouts. I feel like we have some kids in the team right now who definitely have the ability. They just need to keep growing and acclimating to the level.”

THE RETURNERS
Defenders Nami Banks and Josh Gault and midfielder Rafael Matiello give UC Davis three of the 18 players on the inaugural Mountain West Men’s Soccer Watch List, selected by the league’s head coaches. Banks appeared in all 19 matches as a freshman, starting 18 and ranking third on the team with 1,571 minutes, and earned Big West All-Freshman Team honors after scoring twice on 20 shots. Gault also appeared in all 19 matches, made 13 starts and logged 1,449 minutes, playing the full 90 nine times and staying on for all 110 minutes of the quarterfinal at Cal State Fullerton.

“Nami and Josh were both outstanding freshmen last year who played significant minutes on our team, and proved right away they belonged with the impact they had games,” Shaffer said. “We’re going to be relying on their abilities and their experience to help us through games this season.”

Matiello returns after missing the 2025 season. His freshman campaign in 2024 showed the attacking threat he can provide, after recording three goals in 16 appearances, including a two-goal performance in a 2-1 win over Cal State Fullerton that ended the Titans’ 10-match unbeaten streak, during the Aggies’ Big West championship season.

“Rafa is a great player,” Shaffer said. “He’s got good physical size and strength and technique, and a great soccer brain. I think as the season grows, Rafa is just going to get better and better as he gets acclimated again to playing.”

Along with Banks, Gault and Matiello, returners such as Declan Horio, who made 12 starts on the Aggies’ 2024 Big West Tournament championship team, and Tristan Wouters who earned Big West Freshman of the Week honors in 2023 after scoring against Ohio State both will look to make a big impacts for the 2026 squad.

“Declan and Tristan have played really well throughout their careers, and now it’s their opportunity to step in, give us significant minutes and help us win games,” Shaffer said.

Gabe Haggerty adds even more experience to the Davis lineup after recording a goal and an assist in 12 appearances in 2025. Ben Elkins and Gabe Sanchez return for their second seasons with UC Davis after transferring from Gonzaga and Sonoma State respectively. Elkins looks to build on a 2025 season, which was highlighted by his goal in last season’s Big West Tournament semifinal, while Sanchez appeared in 12 matches during his first season at UC Davis.

“Gabe (Haggerty) is very athletic, can play defender or winger and has really improved throughout his career,” Shaffer said. “Now he has his opportunity to play significant minutes.”

“Gabe (Sanchez) and Ben are both local Davis Legacy players, and they both have a ton of talent and ability,” Shaffer said. “I’m looking forward to both of them contributing to our success.”

Other familiar faces include Cole Powell and Caelan Kellett, who each appeared in 13 matches last season.

“Cole came into preseason fit and healthy and adds defensive toughness to our team,” Shaffer said.

“Caelan has really improved since his freshman year,” Shaffer said. “He’s a true left-footed player, probably the most versatile player on the team on the left side, and he has a great opportunity in front of him to contribute for us.”

Kota Brown and Ensio Sardans round out the returning field players who saw action in 2025. Brown appeared in eight matches as a true freshman, while Sardans played in six after redshirting in 2024. Diego Orosco, a San Diego native who has spent time training with the program, enters 2026 as part of the central midfield group.

“Kota saw some minutes as a true freshman and has improved a lot,” Shaffer said. “Diego is a technical player with a great work rate, and both should be competing in the middle of the park for minutes.”

UC Davis will have a new primary goalkeeper after Noah Schwengeler played 1,496 minutes last season. Mekhai Wilson returns with 14 career appearances, while Talin Morgan and Cole McLemore complete the group.

“Mekhai and Talin are both very vocal, with great size and athleticism,” Shaffer said. “I’m looking forward to them helping lead our team from the goalkeeper position. Mekhai’s distribution is outstanding, and his throwing distribution will be a strength for our team.”

THE NEWCOMERS
UC Davis has 12 newcomers joining the team in 2026. The most immediate need amongst the group comes in the form of central defense, where Gavin House, Luke Goodman and Zack Lillington had provided experience and depth over the past few years. Newcomers who should be able to help replace the production from those departures includes Michael Bulloch, a Mater Dei Catholic High School and SDSC Surf product, Victor Ogieriakhi, who developed with De Anza Force and Jake Hobbs, the George Washington transfer who recorded 15 appearances with 13 starts in 2025.

“We graduated quite a bit of experience and depth at center back last year with Gavin, Luke and Zack, so it was going to be a need in our program,” Shaffer said. “Michael and Victor are both outstanding players. They’ve both been coached well, and talent-wise they’re both really strong. Jake comes from a strong competitive background in San Diego, played significant minutes at his previous school and is doing really well in training.”

“Like all incoming players, they’re learning, soaking it up like a sponge and getting better every day,” Shaffer said.

The class also adds options on the left side. Ronaldo Melgoza spent seven years in the Sacramento Republic FC academy, while Kasra Ghoddousi helped University High School win CIF Southern Section, regional and state championships.

“Ronaldo and Kasra are both excellent players,” Shaffer said. “They bring good size and strength, technical ability and athleticism.”

In central midfield, Gunner Parker spent eight years with Albion SC San Diego before arriving from Steele Canyon High School. Nico Collins helped Del Mar High School win a CIF Central Coast Section championship.

“Gunner and Nico are quick, technical central midfielders with very good soccer IQs,” Shaffer said.

The attacking group includes Nicco Garzino, an ECNL All-American with MVLA, and Isaac Chacing, who recorded seven goals and four assists at Cosumnes River College. Luke Castagnola spent six years with Albion SC San Diego.

“In the attack, we added pace, speed and quickness,” Shaffer said. “Nicco is a powerful, left-footed attacking player. Isaac has great feet and a great work rate, and Luke is extremely quick and likes to attack the goal.”

Tallyn Lord joins the Aggies from Shorewood High School and Seattle United’s ECNL program, while Demetrius Egorerua developed with De Anza Force in MLS NEXT.

“Tallyn is very similar to a former player of mine, Max Glasser,” Shaffer said. “I’m looking forward to Tallyn adding depth to our team as he continues to grow. Demetrius is quick, fast and technical.”

ABOUT SACRAMENTO STATE
Sacramento State returns 14 letterwinners and 11 of the 13 goals it scored in 2025 under interim head coach Matt McDougall, who begins his first season leading the Hornets after more than two decades in the program as a player and assistant coach. Allbranly Gue earned Big West All-Freshman Team recognition after recording three goals and two assists last season. Thursday marks the first season-opening meeting between the Causeway rivals; UC Davis has won the past two matchups, 4-2 in Sacramento in 2024 and 2-1 in Davis last fall.

ABOUT CAL POLY
Cal Poly begins its first season as a Pac-12 affiliate after earning at least a share of the Big West regular-season title in each of the past two years. The Mustangs return three all-conference selections, four starters and half of their 2025 goal production, led by Quinn Mahoney and Tanner Casey, who scored four goals apiece, while Jack Civitts and Michael Vick recorded five assists each. Cal Poly opens Thursday at Denver before traveling to Davis.

MATCH INFORMATION

Due to construction and the limited space in Lot 25, fans are encouraged to use the Pavilion Parking Structure for all home matches through Sept. 11. Event parking permits will be honored in the structure. Fans should follow posted signage around the parking structure and Aggie Soccer Field to enter the venue. Event parking permits are available online.

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. More than 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.