UC Davis Field Hockey Hosts Columbia and Bellarmine
West Coast Season Opener and Series History
The Lions kick off the competitive calendar away from home under head coach Niki Miller. Following the opening contest in Davis, California, the squad heads to Berkeley to face the Golden Bears at Underhill Field on Sunday. That weekend fixture represents the second all-time meeting between the two programs, following a prior shutout loss in their initial encounter, per program historical records.
Streaming and tracking details for the opening weekend feature live coverage options for fans and analysts. Friday’s season opener against UC Davis, holding a 1-1 record, streams live on YouTube alongside live statistics feeds.
Roster Depth, Leadership, and Recruiting Additions
Columbia enters the 2026 campaign backed by 20 returning letterwinners and a fresh influx of talent. Head coach Niki Miller officially announced Avery Burnett, Veera Chidanandan, Nadia Gross, Audrey Owen-Smith, Marisa Rubano, Georgia Schmitz, and Norah Veldhuizen as the program’s 2026 recruiting class. This incoming group of first-years arrives in New York City with high expectations to build upon the program’s cultural foundation.
On the tactical front, the Lions rely on a strong core of upperclassmen leadership and defensive stability. Junior Jacinta Solari Etcheberry paces the offensive unit after earning back-to-back All-Ivy League Second Team honors. In the cage, goaltender Margot Houle returns after leading the Ivy League in total saves and saves per game during the 2025 season. Solari Etcheberry and Houle join Emma Reilly and Mckenzie Bloom as team captains for the 2026 slate. Recognition from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) also highlights the roster’s high-level talent, with Adams, Bloom, Houle, and Solari Etcheberry named to the 2026 NFHCA Watchlist, powered by Performance Sports Events (PSE).
The 2026 Home Slate and Institutional Milestones
Following the California trip, the Lions return to New York for an eight-game home schedule featuring several notable promotional dates. The home opener takes place Sept. 11 against UAlbany, immediately followed by a Sept. 13 match against LIU for the Broach Foundation Match. Additional promotional dates include the Youth Game on Sept. 20 against Quinnipiac, the Morgan’s Message Match on Sept. 27 against Monmouth, and Alumni Day on Oct. 4 against Dartmouth. Senior Day is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 25, against Rider, preceding the regular-season finale against Princeton on Oct. 30. The Ivy League Tournament runs from Nov. 6 through Nov. 8, hosted by the highest regular-season seed.
Beyond the current roster, the university athletic department prepares to honor program history. Christina Freibott, class of 2016CC, will be inducted into the Columbia Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 22. Freibott stands as the program’s all-time leader in career points with 99, ranks second in assists with 45, and shares fifth place in school history with 27 goals. Her standout 2014 junior season featured single-season program records of 41 points and 21 assists, earning her unanimous Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year honors and Third Team NFHCA All-America recognition.
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