Men's Soccer Opens 2024 Campaign Thursday - UC Davis Athletics (2024)

DAVIS, Calif. — Fresh off an appearance in the Big West Championship Final, the Aggies are looking to carry last season's success into 2024. With a proven and experienced group of returners leading the charge, UC Davis figures to be right back in the hunt to contend for a Big West title.

"Super excited about the 2024 season," said head coach Dwayne Shaffer. "We have a veteran team loaded with experience. There are several returning starters among the group, and I think the strength of our team is the number of quality, proven players we have at the Division I level and our depth."

THIS WEEK / HOW TO FOLLOW
AUG. 22 | at Pacific | 7:30 P.M. PT | LIVE STATS
AUG. 25 | vs. Utah Valley | 1 P.M. PT | LIVE STATS

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EXPERIENCED CREW
Highlighted by the team's bevy of returners, UC Davis' strength this season will come from their experience. Bringing back a lot of key pieces from a team that went 9-7-4 last year, the Aggies internal growth, and veteran experience will be an identity the team will lean on throughout 2024.

"One of the strengths of our team is the depth in our squad. We have 20 plus returning student-athletes that played on the team either last fall or during the spring. So that's always beneficial to have depth in the group, and quality depth is going to help us individually," Shaffer noted.

CAPTAIN TALK
Cole Pond and Kevin Welch make up the Aggies captains for 2024.

Slotting in at left back, Pond has been as solid as they come throughout his Aggie tenure. "A three-year starter going into his fourth year as a starter, Cole is not only a great player, but he's been an excellent leader throughout his career," added Shaffer.

Welch enters 2024 with big expectations after having served as a key reserve a season ago, and building upon that with a strong showing during the spring season.

"Kevin had an incredible spring season and looking forward to Kevin's leadership in the middle of the park. He's got a great motor, great mobility, had a great season last year as a junior." Welch should see action as a central midfield player for the Aggies this season.

"Kevin and Cole have been excellent leaders throughout and I look forward to each of them having great seasons," Shaffer added.

SENIOR GROUP
"We have an excellent group of seniors that all have great leadership skills," added Shaffer. Among this group of leading group includes the aforementioned captains, as well as Keegan Walwyn-Bent who figures to play a large attacking role for the Aggies all season.

"I'm looking forward to Keegan having an outstanding season. He's been exceptional as an attacking player, and he's really matured physically, mentally and tactically throughout his career," said Shaffer.

Rounding out the group of seniors this season are Scott Buie and Hayden Carlson, both who have proven to be versatile and come through with quality performances throughout their careers. "Scott is a central midfield player who last year, scored a great goal for us in the playoffs against Cal State Fullerton, scoring the game-winner," said Shaffer.

"Hayden Carlson has also been an exceptional reserve left back and left winger for us. I'm looking forward to Hayden having a significant role for us this year as a senior," added Shaffer.

JUNIOR CLASS
In addition to a strong senior class of leaders, the Aggies boast an impressive collection of junior talent.

"Our junior class is loaded with talent and experience," said head coach Dwayne Shaffer. "Several of our players in this group, including Luke Goodman, Cason Goodman, Zack Lillington, Jason Hsu, Lucas Fernandez-Kim, Chase Tanon, and Andrew Dutra, have been starters. They are all returning starters from last year's team, and some have been starters for a couple of years during their careers. All of them are exceptional players with great physical and mental attributes to help us be successful."

IN THE GOAL
With Charles Janssen excelling as the Aggies' goalkeeper for the past two seasons, his departure leaves big shoes to fill. However, the team remains confident in their current roster's potential.

"We had a great starting goalkeeper in our team last year in Charles Janssen," said Shaffer. "But I feel like we've added some quality goalkeepers to our team and added some serious depth. I think all three of our goalkeepers have the potential to be starting goalkeepers for our program during their career, starting with Mekhai Wilson, who was a redshirt for us last year. Mekhai has exceptional athletic talent and is becoming a great vocal leader in the goalkeeping position for us.

"Then we have a transfer student, Noah Schwengeler, who has two years of college experience as a starter on a very successful team. He's bringing great leadership and shot-stopping ability into our program. Finally, we have an entering freshman, Talin Morgan, who played on California High School State Championship team and an excellent club team. Overall I really like our depth in goal," noted Shaffer.

ATTACKING FRONT
While a big void will need to be filled with a new goalkeeper not named Charles Janssen, the attack, on the other hand has plenty of familiar faces, and should serve as a main strength of the Aggies with Preseason All-Big West Cason Goodman being the focal point after leading the Aggies with seven goals in 2023.

"In the attack, I feel like it's a strength of ours," Shaffer added. "We have some excellent players in the attack: Declan Horio, Ian Ngonethong, Keegan Walwyn-Bent, Cason Goodman, Chase Tanon, and Andrew Dutra. These guys have all proven to be excellent attacking players at the Division One level."

MIDFIELD CREATORS
In the midfield the Aggies are full of versatile players who will help control possession for UC Davis on a game-to-game basis. Among this group, UC Davis possesses one of the most technical creators in Lucas Fernandez-Kim.

"I feel like we have one of the best players in the conference in Lucas Fernandez-Kim. Last year he was outstanding in the center midfield and I expect that to continue this season," added Shaffer.

Shaffer also believes the central midfield which consists of Jason Hsu who represented Chinese Taipei during the summer at the Asian Football Confederation World Cup Qualifiers, captain Kevin Welch and reserves like Rafael Matiello, Colton Franklin, and Scott Buie are all pivotal players who provide UC Davis with depth.

FRESH FACES
While experience will be a theme of the Aggies' identity in 2024, Coach Shaffer also highlighted the new faces that have a chance to make an impact this season and add depth to UC Davis' team.

"We'll start with Carson Hammond. Carson redshirted for us last year. He's an excellent soccer player and athlete," said Shaffer. "Carson has earned the starting position so far heading into the fall. He played well in all the spring games for us."

"Gabriel Haggerty redshirted for us last year and adds athleticism and speed to our defense," Shaffer continued. "Gavin House also redshirted last spring and is competing for playing time in a starting position. He was an all-conference MVP player at the junior college level last year. He's got a whole spring season under his belt now. Gavin is an exceptional athlete, great in the air and aerial challenges."

Among the new faces offensively, Gavin Leypon, Zachary Neuls, and Ensio Sardans inject athleticism into the Aggies attacking presence.

"Gavin Leypon is an explosive attacking player who came from a small club in Northern California. Not too many people know about him, but he'll compete for playing time this year as a redshirt freshman," Shaffer said. "Zachary Neuls and Ensio Sardans are two athletically gifted, technically skilled soccer players. They have good physical size and strength, excellent soccer IQ, and they're entering the program as true freshmen. They'll add a tremendous amount of depth to our roster."

EXPERIENCE ROUNDS IT OUT
While the group of new faces will look to make their mark in 2024, the Aggies depth is rounded out by plenty of more experience, a theme consistent with the squad for the upcoming season. Players like Marcus Garcia, Takeru Horike, Milan Uncanin, and Cole Powell are recognized by Coach Shaffer as, "players who will certainly add depth to the team with their experience."

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDARS
The Aggies will be taking on a pair of the best teams in the country during the non-conference portion of the season, traveling to two, top-five programs in the form of Oregon State and Stanford.

Ranked fourth in the country, the Beavers have the highest preseason ranking in their program's history. Oregon State is coming off its deepest NCAA Tournament run in program history, as the Beavers made the 2023 College Cup inGreg Dalby's first season at head coach. UC Davis will take on the Beavers in Corvallis on Sunday, Sept. 8.

Stanford begins the 2024 season with the same ranking they finished 2023 with, slotted as the fifth best team in the country. The Cardinal returns the majority of its 2023 NCAA Tournament quarterfinal squad that went 11-4-5 and took down the tournament's No. 1 seed, Marshall. UC Davis will travel to Stanford on Wednesday, Sept. 18.

PRESEASON HONORS
Cason Goodman earned a spot on the 2024 Big West Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Team.

Goodman is one of only two returning players to start all 20 matches for the Aggies in 2023, a year in which he earned All-Big West Second Team honors after leading UC Davis with seven goals. His presence around the goal was also evident in his ability to set up his teammates, recording three assists as he led the Aggies in total goal contributions (10) and points (17).

Known for being a clutch performer, Goodman led the Big West in game-winning goals, netting five winners in his sophom*ore campaign. This knack for scoring crucial goals was on display throughout the season, where Goodman began 2023 by scoring in three straight games, including the winner in the Aggies' 2-1 victory over Ohio State on Aug. 27. He also delivered the decisive goal in the Big West Championship semifinal to defeat No. 1 seed Cal State Fullerton.

PRESEASON POLL
As a team, the Aggies received 56 points in the 2024 Preseason Coaches' Poll for a predicted fourth-place finish, while UC Irvine led the way with 75 points, followed by Cal State Fullerton and UC Santa Barbara.

UNITED SOCCER COACHES
Both the UC Davis men's and women's soccer programs have earned College Team Academic Awards from the United Soccer Coaches.

UC Davis was one of 107 schools across all NCAA divisions to have both their men's and women's teams recognized for the 2023-24 season.

To qualify, a team's grade point average must be 3.0 or higher throughout the 2023-24 academic year, recognizing exemplary classroom performance.

A total of 419 soccer teams (175 men, 244 women) were honored this past season.