UC Davis Field Hockey Begins 2026 MPSF Championship Postseason Play

The Aggies Hit the Road for MPSF Showdown in Delaware

DAVIS, Calif. — The UC Davis Aggies will open their Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Championship run on Friday, Nov. 6, facing off against the No. 3 seed Queens University of Charlotte in a semifinal match. As reported by UC Davis Athletics, the Aggies enter the tournament as the No. 2 seed, setting the stage for a critical postseason battle in Delaware. A victory on Friday would propel them into the championship match against the top-seeded host, the Delaware Blue Hens, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7.

For a team that finished the regular season with a 3-12 overall record, this championship appearance is a testament to a season defined by resilience and high-profile achievements. The Aggies collected seven MPSF Player of the Week honors throughout the campaign, a remarkable statistic that underscores their ability to compete at a high level even amidst a challenging slate of games. This postseason run is not just about wins and losses; it’s about building on a foundation of success that includes program milestones and individual accolades.

A Season of Firsts and Standout Performers

The 2026 season has been marked by historic moments for the Aggies. Perhaps the most significant was the team’s 1-0 upset over then-No. 12 Louisville on Sept. 29. This victory, secured by Molly Main’s first career goal, stands as the program’s highest RPI win and its first-ever triumph over an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponent. It was a statement game that signaled the Aggies’ growing national competitiveness. “Molly Main earned an MPSF Offensive Player of the Week honor this season after scoring her first career goal to secure a historic 1-0 upset over #12 Louisville,” the official game notes detail, highlighting the game’s significance for the program’s trajectory.

UC Davis Field Hockey Begins 2026 MPSF Championship Postseason Play

This success wasn’t a one-off. It was part of a broader pattern of excellence. Senior goalkeeper Addy Collingwood was a force in cage, earning four MPSF Defensive Player of the Week honors. Her performance against Stanford, where she logged a career-high 13 saves to surpass 100 for her career, exemplified the kind of game-changing saves that kept the Aggies in contention all season. Offensively, Ella Franken led the charge with five goals, including both Aggie tallies in a narrow 2-3 loss to Delaware earlier this season, showing her ability to perform against top-tier competition.

The Path to the Championship

The Aggies’ path to the title begins with a familiar challenge in the semifinals. Their opponent, Queens University of Charlotte, comes into the matchup with a 4-9 overall record, having recently defeated Lock Haven 6-3. The Royals are led by junior midfielder Maddie Just, who accounts for four of their nine goals. In goal, junior Madison Destefano has been busy, tallying 100 saves with a .658 save percentage. This will be the first time in program history that UC Davis has faced Queens, adding an element of the unknown to an already high-stakes game.

If the Aggies can navigate the semifinal, they will face the Blue Hens, a team they know well. Delaware enters the championship weekend with a 9-8 record, fresh off a 3-2 victory over Towson. The Blue Hens are spearheaded by sophomore forward Livia Van’t Hek, who leads the team with nine goals. In their last meeting on Oct. 26, Delaware narrowly defeated UC Davis 3-2, a result that puts a target on the Aggies’ backs as they seek revenge and a championship title.

Queens university of charlotte jill lang

“The 2025 MPSF Championship final was a hard-fought 2-1 battle against Delaware,” the official 2026 season recap notes. “Finishing as runner-up provided invaluable experience for this year’s core group.”

That experience is crucial. Head coach Austin Pile, the reigning 2025 MPSF Coach of the Year, is in his fifth season at the helm. He has built a program that consistently punches above its weight, and his team’s inclusion on the prestigious NFHCA Division I Collegiate Watchlist—featuring seniors Morgan Caldera and Ella Franken—speaks to the national respect they’ve earned. “For the first time since 2023, UC Davis landed two student-athletes on the prestigious NFHCA Division I Collegiate Watchlist,” the game notes state, “with senior midfielders Caldera and Franken earning national honors.”

The Bigger Picture: Building a West Coast Powerhouse

This championship weekend is more than just a single-elimination tournament; it’s a pivotal moment for the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation field hockey conference itself. In 2026, the MPSF expanded with the addition of Queens University of Charlotte, growing to three teams and solidifying its mission to bring high-level collegiate competition to the West Coast. For UC Davis, a founding member of the conference, this is an opportunity to shape the future of their sport on a regional and national scale.

The Aggies’ deep roster, featuring a mix of experienced leaders and a highly touted freshman class that includes Freshman of the Year Charlotte Connally, provides a strong foundation for sustained success. The stakes are high for the student-athletes, for the coaches, and for a university increasingly making its mark on the national athletic stage. A championship would be the culmination of a season of grit, but more importantly, it would be a declaration of intent for the years to come.

The Aggies will face Queens University of Charlotte on Friday, Nov. 6, at 9:00 a.m. PT. The winner advances to face Delaware for the MPSF Championship on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 9:00 a.m. PT.

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