UTAH VALLEY HOSTS WAC IN-STATE RIVALS UTAH TECH AND SOUTHERN UTAH AT CLYDE FIELD
Utah Valley will close out the 2023 season with a pair of games against in-state WAC foes Utah Tech and Southern Utah. The Wolverines will take on Utah Tech on Thursday night in an Old Hammer Rivalry game at Clyde Field at 6 p.m. UVU will then host Southern Utah on Monday night at 6 p.m.
Utah Valley played WAC rival Seattle U to a 0-0 draw last week at Clyde Field. CJ Graham picked up her second solo clean sheet of the season against the Redhawks. She also tallied a pair of critical saves in the game and earned WAC Goalkeeper of the Week honors for her efforts.
Webber continues to lead the Wolverines in goals (14), points (31), shots (59), shots on goal (35), and game-winning goals (4). Ruby Hladek leads the team in assists with nine. 14 different Wolverines have scored a goal this season led by Webber's 14. Stainbrook ranks second on the team with nine goals, followed by Jackson with four and Manthy Brady with three. Graham leads UVU in goal with a 6-0-4 record. She also fronts the team with 29 saves and a 0.80 goals against average. Graham has two solo shutout and two combined clean sheets on the year.
Utah Valley seniors Heather Stainbrook, Ashley Hughes, Nicole Olanda, Sydney Bushman, Jenna Shepherd Gremillion, and Idalia Serrano will be honored in a ceremony prior to the match to celebrate Senior Night.
FAMILY NIGHT AT CLYDE FIELD, TICKETS ONLY $2
Thursday night's game against Utah Tech will be Fall Break Family Night. Tickets will only be $2.
BROADCAST INFO
Utah Valley's matches against Utah Tech on Saturday night versus Southern Utah on Monday evening will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Brandon Crow will be calling the action on the broadcast. Crow is in his eighth season calling the play-by-play action for Utah Valley women's soccer.
ABOUT UTAH TECH
Utah Tech heads into Thursday night's match against Utah Valley with an 8-4-5 overall record and a 3-0-4 WAC mark. The Trailblazers are tied for fourth in the WAC standings with 13 points. Utah Tech hold a 10-game unbeaten streak. The team's last loss was a 1-0 setback to Northern Arizona at home on Sept. 8. UTU went 2-0 at home last week with a 3-1 win over Tarleton and a 3-1 win against Abilene Christian. Senior forward Brynlee Rider scored a goal in each of UTU's matches last week, including the game winner against Tarleton State. Rider and sophomore forward Lacy Fox lead the team with seven goals apiece. Rider also fronts the team with six assists and 20 points. UTU sophomore keeper Brianna Frey leads the team in the box with a 5-4-4 record, including a pair of shutouts. Frey has 53 saves and holds a 1.60 goals against average. Utah Tech head coach Lexi Brown is a Utah Valley alum and played for the Wolverines from 2011-14, earning numerous all-WAC honors.
SERIES HISTORY VS. UTAH TECH
Utah Valley and Utah Tech will meet on the pitch for the 10th time on Thursday evening. Utah Valley holds an all-time 6-2-1 advantage in the series. The Wolverines have won five straight over the Trailblazers. UVU defeated the Trailblazers 2-0 at Clyde Field in Orem last season in the two team's last meeting.
ABOUT SOUTHERN UTAH
Southern Utah heads into this week's matches with a 3-8-5 overall record and a 3-3-1 mark in WAC play. SUU is currently in sixth place in the WAC standings and holds the final spot in the WAC Tournament. The Thunderbirds swept a pair of WAC matches last week at home, picking up a 3-2 win over Abilene Christian and a 1-0 shutout win over Tarleton State. Mayu Yamamoto scored a goal in each match for SUU last week, including the game winner against Tarleton State. Whitney Gardner leads the team with four goals this season, followed by Sammie Sofonia and Ashley Rivera with three apiece. Gardner also leads the team with five assists, 13 points, 39 shots, and 18 shots on goal. Julia Ortega leads the team in the box with 33 saves and a 2.10 goals against average.Â
SERIES HISTORY VS. SUU
Utah Valley and Southern Utah will meet on the pitch for the 16th time on Monday night. Utah Valley holds an all-time 8-4-3 record against the Thunderbirds. The two teams are meeting for just the second time in a WAC match as SUU is in its second season in the WAC. UVU defeated Southern Utah 5-0 in the last meeting between the two teams on Oct. 27.
SENIOR NIGHT
Utah Valley will celebrate its seniors on Thursday night against Utah Tech. Heather Stainbrook, Ashley Hughes, Nicole Olanda, Sydney Bushman, Jenna Shepherd Gremillion, and Idalia Serrano will each be honored in a ceremony prior to Thursday night's match.Â
100 CAPS FOR STAINBROOK AND SHEPHERD GREMILLION
Utah Valley seniors Heather Stainbrook and Jenna Shepherd Gremillion will each be playing in their 100th match Thursday night against Utah Tech. The 100 caps are the most games ever played in a single career in UVU history.Â
CJ GRAHAM EARNS SECOND WAC GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK HONOR
Utah Valley is receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 national poll released on Tuesday. It marks only the second time in program history that the Wolverines have received votes in the top 25. UVU received votes in the top 25 poll for the first time in UVU history last season. The team has never earned a spot in the top 25. The Wolverines received two points in the poll and is one of only six teams among others receiving votes. Utah Valley has played three teams that are currently ranked in the top 25 and holds a 1-2-0 record in those three matches. UVU dropped matches to Clemson (No. 7) and BYU (No. 8) before picking up a 3-2 win over USC (No. 13) on the road.
WEBBER RANKS FIFTH IN THE NATION IN SCORING
Utah Valley junior forward Faith Webber ranks fifth nationally in total goals with 14. She also ranks sixth in the country in goals per game (0.88), seventh in total points (31), seventh in points per game (1.94), eighth in shots on goal per game (2.19), and 12th in game-winning goals (4).Â
UTAH VALLEY RANKS EIGHTH IN THE NATION IN GOALS SCORED
Utah Valley ranks eighth nationally in total goals (43) and eighth in the country in total points (126). The team also ranks 11th in scoring offense (2.69) and 11th in total assists (40).Â
WEBBER TIES UVU SINGLE SEASON GOALS RECORD
Faith Webber has tied the Utah Valley single season goals record with 14 goals—a record that she set last season. Webber recorded a pair of braces in UVU's two wins over Stephen F. Austin and UTRGV to tie the record of 14. It took Webber 20 games last season to score the 14 goals. She has scored her 14 goals this season through only 16 matches this season.
UVU RANKS NO. 74 IN LATEST NCAA RPI
Utah Valley is ranked No. 74 in the latest NCAA RPI. The Wolverines hold the best RPI in the Western Athletic Conference. Grand Canyon is second at 90, followed by Utah Tech (118), California Baptist (138), Seattle U (208), Southern Utah (264), Abilene Christian (273), UTRGV (291), Stephen F. Austin (298), and Tarleton State (302).Â
UVU RANKS FIFTH NATIONALLY IN AVERAGE ATTENDANCE
Utah Valley averages 2,319 fans per game at Clyde Field this season. The Wolverines rank fifth nationally in average attendance behind only South Carolina at 4,464, BYU at 3,983, North Carolina at 3,341, and Arkansas at 2,3554 fans per game. UVU's 2,319 average attendance sits just ahead of Texas A&M in sixth at 2,238.
THREE HAT TRICKS THIS SEASON FOR UVU
Three different players for Utah Valley have recorded hat tricks this season. Heather Stainbrook recorded a hat trick in a 3-1 win over Abilene Christian on Oct. 8, scoring goals in the 31st, 65th, and 68th minutes. Stainbrook's three goals in the match marked the 13th hat trick in UVU history.
Nixan Jackson recorded the 12th hat trick in Utah Valley history in a 10-0 shutout win over Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 28, scoring goals in the 44th, 70th, and 85th minutes.
Faith Webber recorded her second career hat trick, including the game winner in a 3-2 road win at then-No. 19 USC on Sept. 7. It was the 11th hat trick in UVU program history. Webber also recorded a hat trick in a come-from-behind 4-3 win over California Baptist on Sept. 30, 2022.
BRACE CITY
Utah Valley players have produced 10 braces this season. Faith Webber leads the way with five, followed by Heather Stainbrook with three, and Manthy Brady and Nixan Jackson with one each.
