Teams: UC Davis vs. UC Santa Barbara
Records: Aggies, 6-7-1 (1-4); Gauchos, 7-8-1 (4-1)
Where: Aggie Soccer Stadium
When: Friday at 2 p.m.
Who to watch: Friday’s match will mark the final home game for four Aggie seniors – Marisa Boge, Rochelle VanBuskirk, Jordan Martin and Britnee Warmerdam.
Warmerdam, a Lodi, Calif. native has started all 16 matches this year as a defender and scored one goal in a 5-1 win over Montana.
Did you know? Boge, Martin, and Warmerdam each posted one shot on goal in last year’s contest at Aggie Soccer Stadium against the Gauchos. UC Davis couldn’t find the back of the net in a 2-0 loss.
Preview: UC Davis’ matchup against UC Santa Barbara on Friday will be the final home game of the season and the last home contest for seniors Boge, VanBuskirk, Martin, and Warmerdam.
“The seniors are setting the standard for the level of play,” said coach MaryClaire Robinson. “It’s good for the younger players to see what it takes to be successful at this level.”
Boge has appeared in all 52 games of her UC Davis career and led the team with a total of four goals and 10 points last season.
Coach Robinson wasn’t hesitant to praise Boge saying that she leads by example.
Martin has also been very consistent for the Aggies in her four seasons. She has appeared in every game since her freshman year and this season has posted 18 shots with two assists.
“Jordan doesn’t like a lot of attention and the spotlight but she does a good job with the ball in the midfield,” Robinson said. “She’s crafty with the ball, and she links the backs with the forwards.”
Also up front for the Aggies is VanBuskirk, whose 12 goals and 28 points on the season lead the conference.
“Rochelle is the smallest player on the squad with the biggest voice and strongest personality,” Robinson said.
Robinson didn’t leave defender Warmerdam out of the mix.
“One of the places where she’s done a really good job of leading is in the weight room,” Robinson said.
Robinson also addressed the group as a whole.
“The common thread that the four share is that they set the standard on the field,” Robinson said. “Certainly their numbers support this.”
-Grace Sprague
