UTAH VALLEY TRAVELS TO PLAY WEBER STATE ON THURSDAY, HOSTS #25 USC AT CLYDE FIELD ON SATURDAY
After opening the 2021 season with a 2-0 record with wins over Arizona and Northern Arizona, Utah Valley heads up I-15 to Ogden to take on in-state foe Weber State on Thursday evening before returning home to take on No. 25 USC on Saturday. Kickoff for both matches is set for 7 p.m.

Heather Stainbrook scored a goal in each of UVU's wins last week at Clyde Field. She led the Wolverines in shots (10), shots on goal (5), goals (2), and points (4). Nicole Ray and Jenna Shepherd also found the back of the net, each scoring a game winner. The UVU defense held its opponents to a combined eight shots, two shots on goal, and one goal over the two matches.

UVU was picked to win the WAC's west division in the league's preseason coaches' poll. Nine of the 10 players that received All-WAC honors last season return in 2021, including First Team All-WAC honoree and WAC Defensive Player of the Year Jenna Shepherd. Shepherd was also the WAC's pick for preseason Defensive Player of the Year after anchoring the UVU defense to an impressive 11 shutouts last season, including the shutout win over Memphis in the NCAA Tournament. She also helped out on set pieces, scoring five goals on 13 shots. Shepherd has been named one of TopDrawerSoccer.com's Top-100 players in the nation.

BROADCAST INFO
Both Thursday's match at Weber State and Saturday's game against USC will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Brandon Crow is back on the call along with former Wolverine Melanie Perkins for all 10 of UVU's home matches at Clyde Field.

ABOUT WEBER STATE
Weber State is 1-0-0 after opening the season with a 2-0 road win at Kansas State on Aug. 19. The Wildcats have a five-match unbeaten streak dating to last season. The team went 4-3-3 last season and returns six players that scored a goal last season. Weber State was picked to tie for sixth in the Big Sky Conference preseason coaches' poll. Junior midfielder Lauren McConnell scored the game winner against Kansas State in the 31st minute. Freshman forward Morgan Furmaniak also scored against Kansas State, finding the back of the net in the 62nd minute. Senior keeper Kaytlin Bradley earned Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording seven saves and securing the clean sheet in the win over the Wildcats.  

SERIES HISTORY VS. WEBER STATE
Utah Valley and Weber State will meet on the pitch for the eighth time on Thursday night. Weber State holds an all-time 6-1-0 advantage in the series. The Wolverines have dropped six-straight matches to the Wildcats, including a 1-0 setback in the last game played between the two teams on Sept. 4, 2018 at Clyde Field. UVU is 1-2-0 against WSU in games played in Ogden. UVU's only win in the series was the first-ever match between the two teams on Aug. 23, 2003 in Ogden. Six of the seven matches between UVU and WSU have been decided by just one goal.

All-Time Results vs. Weber State
Sept. 4, 2018    Weber State def. Utah Valley, 1-0    Orem, Utah
Aug. 29, 2013    Weber State def. Utah Valley, 2-1 (2OT)    Orem, Utah
Sept. 5, 2012    Weber State def. Utah Valley, 1-0    Ogden, Utah
Aug. 23, 2011    Weber State def. Utah Valley, 1-0    Orem, Utah
Aug. 26, 2005    Weber State def. Utah Valley, 1-0    Orem, Utah
Oct. 9, 2004    Weber State def. Utah Valley, 5-2    Ogden, Utah
Aug. 23, 2003    Utah Valley def. Weber State, 1-0    Ogden, Utah

ABOUT USC
USC is a storied program with a pair of national championships to its name in 2007 and 2016. The Trojans head into Utah County this week with a 0-1-0 record following a season-opening 2-0 loss at home to Pepperdine. The team will take on No. 24 BYU on Thursday before traveling up University Parkway to Clyde Field on Saturday. USC has a pair of players on the MAC Hermann Trophy award watch list, including senior forward Penelope Hocking and redshirt senior midfielder Savannah DeMelo. Hocking was named a semifinalist for the award last season, while DeMelo has been on the watch list the past three seasons. Hocking recorded a team-best 10 goals last season, while DeMelo ranked second on the team with six assists. Hocking ranks second all-time at USC with 42 career goals.

SERIES HISTORY VS. USC
Utah Valley and Southern California meet on the pitch for the first time on Saturday night.

SHEPHERD NAMED ONE OF TOP DRAWER SOCCER'S TOP-100 PLAYERS
UVU sophomore defender Jenna Shepherd has been named to TopDrawerSoccer.com's Division I Preseason Top-100 list, highlighting the top women's soccer players in the nation. Shepherd has earned numerous honors in her career, including WAC Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-WAC, and WAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year distinctions. Shepherd most recently headed in the game winner in overtime in a 2-1 win over Big Sky preseason favorite Northern Arizona.

UVU OPENS SEASON WITH 2-0 RECORD FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2008
Utah Valley opened the 2021 season with a 2-0 record with wins over Arizona and Northern Arizona this past week at Clyde Field. It marks the first time since the 2008 season that the Wolverines have opened the season with a 2-0-0 record. In 2008, UVU opened the season three-straight wins over North Dakota, Northern Colorado, and Texas State. The 3-0 record to open 2008 is the best start to a season in school history.

CLYDE FIELD MAGIC
Utah Valley holds an impressive 86-39-12 (.672) all time record at Clyde Field. The team has lost just eight matches over the past five seasons on the home pitch. UVU ranked ninth in the nation in attendance in 2019 as the Wolverines average 1,319 fans per game at Clyde Field. UVU currently holds a six-match unbeaten streak at Clyde Field.