UTAH VALLEY MEETS DIXIE STATE IN OLD HAMMER RIVALRY
Utah Valley University opens the 2021 conference schedule in the inaugural Old Hammer Rivalry match at in-state foe Dixie State University on Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. The game will air live on the WAC Digital Network from Greater Zion Stadium in St. George.
The Wolverines (3-1-2) will play their first three WAC contests on the road before three straight at home, during the 11-game schedule. All 12 WAC teams are in action on Saturday on the opening day of conference play.
LAST TIME OUT
A golden goal less than four minutes into the first overtime period stunned Utah Valley as No. 3 Washington picked up a 2-1 win on Sept. 16 at Clyde Field in front of 2,423 fans. It was the first defeat of the season for UVU.
Diego Castillo scored on a PK for the Wolverines, in the 19th minute of the game, after a foul was whistled in the box against Evans Armah. The goal was Castillo's third of the season, tying him for the team lead with Aaron Nixon. Jason Smith had four saves while making his second straight start for Utah Valley.
Despite the loss, the Wolverines maintained their No. 7 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches Far West Region poll. Washington is No. 1 in the Far West Region and also received one first-place vote in the national poll while maintaining its No. 3 overall ranking.
ABOUT THE OPPOSITION
Dixie State enters Saturday's match after a 1-6-0 non-conference schedule. The Trailblazers opened the season with a 1-0 home win over UC San Diego, but have lost six straight against a tough schedule. Five of those six losses have come on the road, including a 2-0 defeat on Sept. 19 at No. 22 Santa Clara. Dixie State is coached by former Utah Valley assistant Johnny Broadhead, who is entering his fifth season in St. George.
UP NEXT
The Wolverines continue the three-game road swing with a trip to Texas next week. UVU will play at UT Rio Grande Valley on Friday, Oct. 1 at 1 p.m. CT/noon MT and at Incarnate Word on Sunday, Oct. 3, also a 1 p.m. CT/noon MT start.
