Weekend Round-Up: Lions Roar into Semifinals, Lionesses Battle to a Draw on the Road

FC Davis Men

The Lions kicked off their 2025 National Playoff campaign in style on Saturday night, hosting AFG Premier in front of a crowd at Playfields. Entering the match as the top seed, FC Davis showed exactly why they’re considered one of the top sides in the nation, dominating possession and dictating the tempo from the opening whistle.

Despite controlling the game and generating multiple chances, it took a moment of individual brilliance to break the deadlock. Midway through the first half, Lucas Fernandez-Kim dazzled the crowd with a sensational solo effort to put Davis up 1-0. The Lions continued to press but couldn’t find a second before the break.

The second half mirrored the first—fluid ball movement, strong defensive work, and numerous opportunities—yet the finishing touch remained elusive. That changed in the 75th minute when Tony Melendrez calmly slotted home a shot in the box to give the Lions a 2-0 cushion. From there, Fernandez-Kim took over, netting two more goals to complete a hat trick and seal a convincing 4-0 win for FC Davis.

The Lions now advance to the Conference Semifinal this Saturday, where they’ll face San Ramon FC—the only team to blemish Davis’ record this season after a hard-fought 2-2 draw earlier in June.

FC Davis Women

The Lionesses headed to San Francisco on Friday night to take on the perennial powerhouse SF Nighthawks in a pivotal conference matchup. In a tightly contested match, it was the Nighthawks who struck first just before halftime, capitalizing on a defensive miscue and converting a penalty after a foot race and foul inside the box.

Davis regrouped and came out strong in the second half. Their effort was rewarded when Emma Buettner found the equalizer, coolly finishing a shot in front of the net to bring the game level. From that point on, the Lionesses took control, creating a flurry of chances and applying constant pressure on the Nighthawks’ back line.

Despite the dominant second-half performance, the final whistle blew with the score locked at 1-1.

The Lionesses return home this week for two crucial matches at Playfields. First up is a midweek clash on Wednesday night at 7:00pm against Napa Valley 1839, followed by a Saturday showdown at 7:00pm against Fresno Freeze. Both games are critical as FC Davis Women push toward the postseason.

Tickets for all matches are available now at www.footballclubdavis.com