Genavieve Fontes is getting the job done on the pitch.

The UC Davis women’s soccer player, a redshirt junior midfielder who is a 2021 Hilmar High graduate, has posted impressive numbers that have earned her recognition in the Big West Conference and nationally. But Fontes and the Aggies chasing an opportunity to be one of the best in the West.

“We haven’t won anything – yet,” said Fontes, whose Aggies have an 8-4 overall record that includes a 1-2 mark in the Big West. “We want to get a ring this season.”

Before the start of this season, Fontes suffered an injury that college athletes, no matter the sport they play, can fear the most.

During her rehabilitation, the 5-foot-9 Fontes dealt with times in which her emotions led to having second thoughts.

Thankfully, she has a strong supporting cast that include UCD head coach Tracy Joyner and one of the college’s trainers.

This has been a plus for the former multi-sport athlete who grew up in Merced County, located in the heart of the Central Valley part of California.

Leading scorer

This season, the former Yellowjacket five-sport athlete leads UCD and conference in scoring with eight goals on 18 shots on goal.

In September, Fontes, who has played in all the Aggies’ 12 games this season, was named the Big West Offensive Player of the Week.

She also earned the National Player of the Week honor from TopDrawSoccer.com. This marks Fontes' first national recognition and the first time for an Aggie to have been named National Player of the Week in the Division I era.
Fontes' stellar performance included four goals and two match-winning contributions in victories over Utah Valley and LSU. She scored twice in the Aggies' 3-0 shutout of Utah Valley on Sept. 12.

“Our preseason play was good,” Fontes said. “Getting out of preseason, we were on a high note. We wanted to ride that out.”

In the Aggies’ 4-3 historic win over LSU on Sept. 15, Fontes had the game-winning shot in the 83rd minute and had the game’s first goal in the 13th minute. She was ranked sixth nationally in game-winning goals and 13th in total goals scored.

But the humble Fontes refuses to take all the credit for her recognition.

‘Team’s success’

“My success came from my team’s success,” Fontes said. “Most of my goals come from heading to the goal. One of my teammates gives me the nod off, and then I just follow up the shot. My team works so hard to get the ball up the field.”

The Aggies lost two of their three Big West games. One of those losses was at Aggie Soccer Field, where CSU Bakersfield left Yolo County and returned to Kern County with a 2-1 win.

“There’s a lot more to lose in conference,” Fontes said. “There’s the expectations and the stakes are so much higher. Everyone wants the rings.”

One look at the Big West standings, UCD is one of three schools that has an overall winning record – UC Santa Barbara (3-0-1 in the conference, 5-3-5) and Hawai’i (3-0, 7-6) are the other.

The Aggies were off last week. That could be a good thing entering the second week of October.

UCD resumes Big West action at Long Beach State on Thursday,

‘Rough’

“At this time, conference play has been rough,” Fontes said. “We are trying to have a strong mentality like ‘yes, we can do it.’ Maybe we’re not where we’re at right now, or where we wanted to be. But we still have all of the tools, knowing that we can get out of this.”

Playing for Joyner, who recruited Fontes out of high school, is what the midfielder calls “inspiring.”

“Before every game, she gives a speech,” said Fontes of Joyner, “and it just lights a fire. It’s so inspirational. It just makes me want to play so hard.”

Joyner and Fontes can certainly relate to each other – they each have suffered a torn ACL.

Fontes tore the ACL in her left knee during a spring soccer game against Chico in early 2023. She went through lengthy rehabilitation, which led to her missing the entire 2023 season.

Fontes was coming off a solid 2022 season in which she started in 14 of 15 games for UCD. She scored two goals that season.

A left-footed kicker, Fontes went through the stages of the injury, the rehabilitation through recovery.

“I was pretty devastated,” said Fontes of the injury at the time. “I was working so hard to get a starting spot. I thought I was going to get there.”

Dark days

Fontes thanks Joyner and Doug Hess, who is the associate head athletic trainer at UCD, for getting her through the dark days that have turned into brighter days.

“There were definitely days where you hit a low,” Fontes said. “You’re just like ‘I don’t want to do this anymore.’ In the big picture, grand scheme kind of things, it’s so worth it.”

Fontes felt Hess’ personality played a huge role during the recovery process.

“Doug is such a positive guy,” said Fontes of Hess. “I’d come into the training room crying one day, saying ‘my knee hurts so bad.’ He’d say, ‘hold on, let’s take a deep breath and here’s our game plan.’”

Going through the pain of rehabilitation, in steps, played a role in Fontes’ recovery.

“I want to get better; I want to get on the field,” Fontes said.

Once Hess got her back on track, the road to Fontes’ recovery became stronger and better.

“Now where I am at today, I still have a little bit of issues with my knee, but I know my knee is strong and all of the work that I’ve put in is so worth it.”

Joyner added, “It’s tough to come back from an ACL. She has done a remarkable job and shows her commitment to her team. It’s really hard to go through the rehab process. It takes an emotional toll on you when you’re watching your team from the sideline. You have to stay focused on what you need to do get yourself back out there. She was very committed to her recovery.

Fontes’ athleticism Aggie fans see today was developed through club soccer as a youth and playing five sports at Hilmar – soccer, softball volleyball, cross-country and track and field teams, and one year of basketball.

In soccer, Fontes was a three-time Trans Valley League selection and named the league offensive MVP from her sophomore to senior years.

Fontes also earned all-league selection in softball – twice – and volleyball, once.

‘Very strong’

“Her athleticism is the initial thing that caught my eye,” said Joyner of recruiting Fontes out of high school. “She’s got a good frame, high motor… very strong. She’s a natural lefty and confident in her services in getting quick shots off.”

All that cross-training Fontes feels has made her into a better person and teammate.

“When coming to Davis, I didn’t realize how much fitness was so important at the Division I level because you play club soccer your whole life and you’re like ‘oh, you’re so good,’” said Fontes, “and then you get to college soccer and it’s like reality check. The running sports I did (at Hilmar), teamwork, all came together. The aggressiveness of soccer, the agility of softball… athletics helped me out in the long run now.”

Her love for soccer came at age 4. All thanks to Cesar, her father, who is a 1993 Hilmar High graduate.

“We’re Portuguese, and my dad is really big on the Portugal national team,” said Genavieve of her father.

Now Fontes and the Aggies are ready to resume their quest for the ring of being the best in the Big West.

“We’re all playing with everything we have,” Fontes said.