DENVER—The Utah Valley University women's soccer team has been selected to finish second in the 2022 Western Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. Junior
Jenna Shepherd was named the WAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, while being joined by
Sydney Bushman,
Julianna Carter, and
Heather Stainbrook on the Preseason All-WAC Team.
Utah Valley has won WAC Tournament championships and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in three out of the last seven seasons (2015, 2017, 2020) and has made an appearance in the WAC Tournament championship match in six of those seven seasons (2021, 2020, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015).
Utah Valley returns 13 players, including eight starters that went 13-7-2 last season and finished second in WAC play with a 6-2-2 mark.
The Wolverines received four of the 12 first place votes and 110 points to earn the second spot in the 12-team poll. Grand Canyon received eight first place votes and 117 points for the top spot. Stephen F. Austin is ranked third (90), followed by California Baptist in fourth (84), New Mexico State fifth (74), and Seattle U sixth (72). Abilene Christian was selected seventh (62), Utah Tech was eighth (46), and Sam Houston ninth (42. UTRGV was picked 10th (39), followed by Southern Utah in 11th (25), and Tarleton 12th (21).
Shepherd earns Preseason WAC Defensive Player of the Year honors for a second straight season. She was the WAC's Defensive Player of the Year in 2020. Shepherd earned her second straight First Team All-WAC honor last year and earned Second Team All-Pacific accolades. She played and started 21 matches in 2021 and anchored the Wolverine defense to 11 shutouts, including 10 shutout victories. She also helped offensively as an attacking defender with five points, including one goal and two assists.
Bushman was named to the Preseason All-WAC team after playing all 22 matches with 21 starts last season for UVU. She was part of a backline that picked up 11 shutouts while limiting opponents to a 1.27 goals per game average and a .131 shot percentage. Bushman has received postseason All-WAC honors in each of the past two seasons.
Carter ranked third on the team last season with 15 points. She led the Wolverines with nine assists and was fifth on the team with five goals. She was sixth on the team with 22 shots, including 12 shots on goal. Carter has earned All-WAC honors in each of the last two years.
Stainbrook is a three-time All-WAC honoree and earned First Team All-WAC honors last season after scoring a team-best nine goals. She ranked second on the team with an impressive 22 points, including nine goals and four assists. She also ranked second on the team with 48 shots, including 24 shots on frame. She earned Third Team All-Pacific honors.
Utah Valley will open the 2022 season with an exhibition match against in-state rival Weber State on Saturday at Clyde Field at 7 p.m. Admission will be free to the public.
The exhibition game against the Wildcats on Saturday will not be broadcast or streamed. Live stats will be available at UVUstats.com. Starting with the Aug. 22 game against Colorado College, all regular season home matches will be broadcast this season on ESPN+.
2022 WAC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Rank |
Team (1st Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. |
Grand Canyon (8) |
117 |
| 2. |
Utah Valley (4) |
110 |
| 3. |
Stephen F. Austin |
90 |
| 4. |
California Baptist |
84 |
| 5. |
New Mexico State |
74 |
| 6. |
Seattle U |
72 |
| 7. |
Abilene Christian |
62 |
| 8. |
Utah Tech |
46 |
| 9. |
Sam Houston |
42 |
| 10. |
UTRGV |
39 |
| 11. |
Southern Utah |
25 |
| 12. |
Tarleton |
21 |
2022 WAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Gianna Gourley, Grand Canyon
2022 WAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year:
Jenna Shepherd, Utah Valley
2022 Preseason All-WAC Team
Julianna Carter, Sr., F, Utah Valley
Colleen Feagins, Jr., F, Stephen F. Austin
Gianna Gourley, Jr., F, Grand Canyon
Lindsey Prokop, Jr., F, Grand Canyon
Brenna Alderson, So., MF, Grand Canyon
Emily Bunnell, Grad, MF, Seattle U
Xitlaly Hernandez, Jr., MF, New Mexico State
Heather Stainbrook, Jr., MF, Utah Valley
Sydney Bushman, Jr., D, Utah Valley
Erin Gallagher, Sr., D, California Baptist
Reese Mendenhall, So., D, Grand Canyon
Jenna Shepherd, Jr., D, Utah Valley
Jordan Ferguson, So., GK, Grand Canyon
