MORAGA, Calif. - After leaving Kansas City with a gritty 1-1 draw, the Gaels will return to Northern California but remain on the road as they take on UC Davis on Wednesday, September 3rd. Like the Aggies, the Gaels are also seeking their first win of the 2025 season and will have a chance to do so under the lights at Aggie Soccer Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM and you can catch all the action live on ESPN+.
GAME INFORMATION AND COVERAGE
MSOC | Saint Mary's at UC Davis | Aggie Soccer Field
Davis, Calif. | September 3rd | 7:00 PM
Live Stats |
ESPN+ |
Tickets
GAELS OUTLOOK
David Lee Nets First Career Goal in 1-1 Draw with No.19 Kansas City…
Saint Mary's completed a home-and-home with the Kansas City Roos last week and got a bit of revenge from last year's meeting with a 1-1 road draw for their first point of the 2025 season. The Gaels went into Kansas City and took a one-goal lead thanks to sophomore
David Lee. Lee scored his first collegiate goal in the 38th minute after spending his freshman season at James Madison in 2024.
The Gaels had a free kick near midfield that was sent into the top of the 18-yard box off the foot of
TJ Dilley. The initial ball was won and flicked on by forward
Kayvon Monfared and Lee was able to put a left foot through the back of the ball and find the side netting off an impressive volley. The goal stunned the Roos crowd who entered the match as the 19th ranked team in the nation.
Kansas City would go on to score just three minutes into the second half to equalize but the Gaels defense would face thirteen shots while keeper
Sam Bentley made three saves to help preserve the 1-1 road draw. Saint Mary's has scored in each of their three games this season and have even held leads in two of them as they will prepare for UC Davis Wednesday night, seeking their first win of the 2025 campaign.
String of Five Straight Road Matches…
Head coach
Adam Cooper has made it very clear that his squad has one of the toughest schedules in recent memory. That road gets a little tougher the next couple of weeks as the team will play in five straight road matches to end their non-conference season. Two of those road matches will come against ranked opponents including the Stanford Cardinal who came in at No.1 in Tuesday's United Soccer Coaches poll.
UC Davis and Cal Poly were also picked to finish in the top-three of the Big West as the Gaels will take on the Aggies tomorrow night and then the Mustangs the following Sunday. They will finish out their non-conference slate at Sacramento State before starting WCC play at home against newfound conference member Seattle U.
Series History…
The series history between both programs has been rather back-and-forth as of late. Both teams have split the last six matchups with three wins and three losses. Last season, UC Davis came to Moraga and beat the Gaels 2-0 while Saint Mary's earned their last win over the Aggies on the road in 2023.
Saint Mary's is 7-9-4 all-time against the Aggies dating back to 1985.
ABOUT THE AGGIES (Big West)
UC Davis landed two players on the 2025 Big West Preseason Coaches' Team and was picked to finish third in the league's annual preseason poll announced last month. Senior forward Cason Goodman and senior defender Zack Lillington earned spots on the preseason all-conference team and both players were also named to the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Players to Watch list.
Goodman was the 2024 Big West Championship Tournament MVP after scoring twice in the title match against UC Santa Barbara. He led the Aggies with 11 goals and 25 points, earning All-Big West First Team and United Soccer Coaches All-Far West Region First Team honors. Lillington anchored the UC Davis back line last season, logging nearly 1,500 minutes across 18 starts. He earned All-Big West Second Team and All-Far West Region Second Team recognition in 2024.
This season though, the Aggies are winless through their first four games. They've allowed just one goal per match but have only scored twice this season, earning draws against Santa Clara and Washington and defeats to San Francisco and fourth ranked Stanford this past Sunday. Saint Mary's will be the third WCC program the Aggies will face this season. They'll finish with five such games as they take on Seattle U and Pacific later this preseason. The Aggies will look for their first home win over the Gaels since 2021.
Wednesday's game is scheduled for a 7:00 PM kickoff and the match will be streamed live on ESPN+. Tickets can be purchased online at ucdavisaggies.com.
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