UTAH VALLEY OPENS 2022 SEASON AT BOISE STATE
Utah Valley officially opens the 2022 season at Boise State on Thursday evening at Lincoln Recreation Field in Boise, Idaho. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. 

The Wolverines head into Thursday's match fresh off a 5-1 exhibition win over Weber State on Saturday night at Clyde Field. Newcomer Faith Webber recorded a brace with a pair of goals in the first four minutes of the match to lead the Wolverines to the win over the Wildcats. Julianna Carter, Hannah Lee, and Isabella Stewart also added goals for UVU.  

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. All-region honorees Jenna Shepherd and Heather Stainbrook return to the squad for their junior campaigns this season. 

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. 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. 

Strikers Nicole Ray and Julianna Carter return to the team after scoring five and three goal, respectively last season. WAC Freshman of the Year Breanna Eves is back after finding the back of the net three times last year, along with 2021 starting defenders Sydney Bushman, Nicole Olanda, and Megan Sullivan.

BROADCAST INFO
Thursday's match at Boise State will be broadcast live on the Mountain West Network which is available at TheMW.com. 

ABOUT BOISE STATE
Boise State went 11-7-4 last season and finished in a tie for sixth in the Mountain West Conference standings at 4-4-3. The Broncos advanced to the championship match of the Mountain West Tournament with wins over San Diego State and Fresno State but fell to top-seeded New Mexico in the final. BSU was picked third in this year's Mountain West preseason coaches' poll.

SERIES HISTORY VS. BOISE STATE
Utah Valley and Boise State will meet on the pitch for the seventh time on Thursday. Boise State holds an all-time 4-1-1 advantage in the series. The Wolverines picked up their first-ever win over the Broncos last season with a 3-0 shutout win in Orem. Heather Stainbrook scored the game winner, while Sadie Brockbank recorded a brace in the win. The match will be the first contest played in Boise since the 2006 game, which BSU won 3-0 (Sept. 6, 2006). Two of the six matches have gone to overtime. 

All-Time Results vs. Boise State
Sept. 10, 2021    Utah Valley def. Boise State, 3-0    Orem, Utah
Aug. 31, 2014    Utah Valley ties Boise State, 1-1 (2OT)    Orem, Utah
Sept. 3, 2010    Boise State def. Utah Valley, 1-0    Pocatello, Idaho
Sept. 6, 2006    Boise State def. Utah Valley, 3-0    Boise, Idaho
Sept. 17, 2004    Boise State def. Utah Valley, 1-0    Orem, Utah
Oct. 10, 2003    Boise State def. Utah Valley, 3-2 (OT)    Boise, Idaho

UVU IN SEASON OPENERS
The Wolverines hold an all-time 8-9-2 record in season-opening matches. The Wolverines hold a 4-2-2 record when opening the season at home and a 2-7-0 when opening the season on the road. UVU is 2-0-0 when opening the season at a neutral site.   

All-Time Results in Season Openers (8-9-2)
2003 vs. Mesa State, W, 5-0
2004 vs. Northern Arizona, T, 0-0 (2OT)
2005 vs. Weber State, L, 0-1
2006 vs. Tulsa (Laramie), W, 2-1
2007 vs. Southern Utahl, T, 1-1 (2OT)        
2008 vs. North Dakota, W, 5-0
2009 at Utah, L, 0-6
2010 vs. Southern Utah (Sandy, UT), W, 2-0
2011 vs. Portland State, W, 4-2
2012 vs. UTEP, L, 1-2
2013 at UTEP, L, 2-3
2014 at Portland State, L, 0-1
2015 at San Diego State, L, 0-6
2016 at Northern Arizona, W, 4-1
2017 at Hawaii, L, 1-2 (OT)
2018 at California, L, 0-3
2019 at Michigan State, L, 1-3
2020 at FAU, W, 5-1
2021 vs. Arizona, W, 2-0