BERKELEY, Calif. — A trio of hat tricks propelled the UC Davis Aggies to a 13-12 road victory over the California Golden Bears on Monday, February 23, 2026. Ava Horrocks, Jane Fox and Lauren Picardi each scored three goals, with Picardi netting the game-winner in a contest marked by six ties and four lead changes.
The win improves UC Davis’ record to 2-3 on the season, while California falls to 3-2.
Horrocks’ four-goal performance marked a career high for the freshman, and represents the second hat trick of her young collegiate career. Fox secured her third hat trick of the season, and Picardi followed suit with her second consecutive three-goal game. Picardi also contributed two assists, tying a season-high with five points.
Cami Johnson added a pair of goals to the Aggies’ tally, while Annie Cimperman dominated the draw circle with eight draw controls. Emily Altshuler anchored the defense with five saves and three ground balls.
The Aggies responded quickly after California opened the scoring just a minute into the first quarter. Fox connected with Horrocks for the equalizer. Horrocks added her second goal five minutes later, keeping the score tied at two. Fox then gave UC Davis the lead, only for the Golden Bears to respond. The Aggies closed the first half strong, scoring four of the final five goals to establish a 7-4 advantage at halftime. Both Horrocks and Fox had secured hat tricks by the break, carrying the offensive load for UC Davis.
Picardi extended the lead to four goals less than a minute into the third quarter. After a two-goal run by California, she assisted Johnson, increasing the Aggies’ lead once more. However, the Golden Bears mounted a comeback, scoring four consecutive goals to regain the lead. With just 16 seconds remaining in the third, Rhea Cosand found the back of the net off another assist from Picardi, tying the game at 10 heading into the final period.
The fourth quarter continued the back-and-forth affair. California scored the first two goals, but Picardi and Johnson answered with goals of their own. With just over a minute remaining, Picardi completed her hat trick with the decisive goal, securing the 13-12 victory for UC Davis. Audrey Carr secured a crucial draw control following Picardi’s goal, allowing the Aggies to run out the clock.
The Aggies will continue their road trip, heading north to face Oregon on Saturday, February 28. First draw is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. PT and will be available to watch on Big Ten Plus.
UC Davis is a public university ranked highly by the Wall Street Journal, with over 40,000 undergraduate students. The university boasts top-ranked programs in Agriculture and Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine. Over 650 Aggie student-athletes compete in 25 Division I varsity sports, with 16 sports transitioning to the Mountain West Conference beginning in the 2026–27 academic year.
