For the first time in nearly 50 days, the Utah Valley men's soccer team returns to Clyde Field for a pair of matches against the Houston Christian Huskies on Thursday and the UT-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros on Saturday. Thursday's match is scheduled for 5 p.m. MDT and Saturday's game is scheduled for 3 p.m. MDT.

Both matches are the first half of a doubleheader with the women's soccer team, who will be facing UTRGV on Thursday and Stephen F. Austin on Saturday. All matches will be streamed on ESPN+. 

LAST TIME OUT

The Wolverines are hoping to tap into some Clyde Field magic after spending the last seven matches on the road. Utah Valley come into Thursday's meeting with HCU riding a four-game losing skid, including dropping the first two WAC matches against GCU and Air Force last week, 2-1 and 3-1 respectively. The four-game streak is the longest losing streak since the 2018 season, when the Wolverines dropped five straight. 

ABOUT THE HUSKIES

Houston Christian (5-3-5, 1-0-3 WAC) comes into Orem riding a seven-game unbeaten streak, winning four and drawing three. The Huskies are one of three unbeaten teams in WAC play entering the week alongside 4-0 Air Force and 1-0-1 San Jose State, and sit in second place in the conference. 

SERIES HISTORY VS HCU

The Wolverines and Huskies have met eight times as members of the WAC, with UVU holding a 5-3 advantage. Utah Valley is a perfect 4-0 at Clyde Field, with the last meeting in Orem being a 3-0 win back in 2019. The Huskies picked up a 2-0 win in Houston last fall. 

ABOUT THE VAQUEROS

UTRGV (3-5-3, 1-2-1 WAC) enters the week in the middle of the pack in sixth place in the conference. The Vaqueros dropped their first two in WAC play to Seattle U and San Jose State, but bounced back with a draw to Utah Tech and a win over UNLV. 

SERIES HISTORY VS UTRGV

After last season's trip to Edinburg was wiped out due to inclement weather, the Wolverines and Vaqueros will meet for the first time since the Spring 2021 season, which was a 3-1 win for UTRGV. Utah Valley holds a 4-2 advantage all-time, including a 2-1 advantage at home. 

WHO TO WATCH FOR

The Wolverines will have to contain arguably the most dangerous offensive trio in the WAC in HCU's Bryant Farkarlun, Ethan Giwa-McNeil and D'Alessandro Herrera, who are first, fourth and seventh respectively in points in the conference. Farkarlun is squarely in the mix for the WAC's Golden Boot with eight goals on the season behind only Air Force's Thaddaeus Dewing (10 goals), and is also tied for the league lead in assists with five. 

KWIZERA IN THE PLAYOFFS

Former UVU midfielder Jojea Kwizera and CF Montréal begin their MLS Cup Playoffs run on Sunday against Orlando City SC. Kwizera has appeared in eight matches for Montréal, starting three, with one assist in 274 minutes played. Kickoff of that match is scheduled for 6 p.m. MDT on ESPN.