UTAH VALLEY HOSTS ABILENE CHRISTIAN ON SATURDAY NIGHT AT CLYDE FIELD
Utah Valley returns home from a four-game road swing to continue Western Athletic Conference play and host Abilene Christian on Saturday night at Clyde Field. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN+. The game kicks off a three-game homestand for the Wolverines, who will also host California Baptist on Oct. 17 and Grand Canyon on Oct. 21.
The Wolverines enter the week with a 9-4-1 overall record and a perfect 3-0-0 mark in WAC play. UVU has won six consecutive matches and seven of its last eight as the team looks to remain unbeaten in conference play and extend its winning streak at home.
Faith Webber leads Utah Valley with 11 goals, two assists, and 24 points. She tops the nation in shots per game (5.86) and ranks second in shots on goal per game (2.93). Her 11 goals place her fifth in the country this season. Ruby Hladek and Nixan Jackson each have four goals, while Hladek leads the team in assists with six.
A total of 12 different players have scored for the Wolverines this season, showcasing the team's offensive depth. Sadie Beardall, Quincy Bonds, Mia Owens, Ashley Garcia, and Sarah Oyler each have two goals, contributing to UVU's balanced attack.
Utah Valley ranks second nationally in total assists (45), fourth in total points (115), and seventh in goals scored (35). These numbers reflect the team's ability to create scoring opportunities and capitalize on them consistently.
CJ Graham leads the Wolverines in goal with a 7-3-1 record. She has one solo shutout and two combined shutouts, totaling 41 saves this season. Graham's consistent play has helped secure UVU's unbeaten start in WAC action.
BROADCAST INFO
Utah Valley's match against Abilene Christian will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Brandon Crow will handle the play-by-play duties, while former Wolverine and Euro pro Amber Tripp will be on the color commentary.
ABOUT ABILENE CHRISTIAN
Abilene Christian enters the week with a 2-5-6 overall record and a 0-3-0 mark in WAC play after a challenging start to conference action. The Wildcats have faced tough opponents in their first three WAC matches, falling to Seattle U, Grand Canyon, and California Baptist. Peyton Hill and Chase Thorn lead the team with five points each, while Hill, Thorn, and Aliyah Anderson share the team lead with two goals apiece. ACU has utilized four different goalkeepers this season, with Lili Ross leading the way, holding a 2-4-4 record, 40 saves, and a 1.29 goals-against average.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE WILDCATS
Utah Valley and Abilene Christian will meet up on the pitch for just the third time in the two team's histories. Utah Valley holds an all-time 2-0-0 record against the Wildcats. Saturday's game will mark the first time that the two teams have played in Orem. UVU defeated ACU 3-1 last season in Texas.
WEBBER LANDS ON TOP DRAWER SOCCER MIDSEASON TOP-100 LIST AT NO. 31
Utah Valley senior forward Faith Webber, ranked No. 31 on the Top Drawer Soccer Midseason Top-100 list, is the highest-ranked player from a Utah college and one of only two WAC players on the list. Webber leads the nation in shots per game (5.86), ranks second in shots on goal per game (2.93), and is fifth in goals (11). She recently set a UVU record with her 41st career goal and is just six goals away from breaking her own single-season record of 16 set last year. She also leads the WAC in multiple offensive categories, including goals and points.
BEARDALL EARNS WAC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Utah Valley sophomore forward Sadie Beardall has been named the WAC Jersey Mike's A Sub Above Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week after scoring the game-winning goal and assisting twice in a 4-3 win at Utah Tech, bringing her season totals to two goals, five assists, and nine points.
ROAD WARRIORS
Utah Valley has spent a significant amount of time on the road this season, with 11 of the team's 14 games taking place away from home. The Wolverines have traveled a total of 8,966 miles, including flights to Ann Arbor, Detroit, Orlando, Charlottesville, Davis, California, Spokane, San Diego, and Dallas, Texas. The travel also included a bus journey from the Dallas airport to Stephenville, Texas, and back, as well as a round trip bus journey from Orem, Utah, to St. George. Despite the demanding travel schedule, UVU has managed to achieve an impressive 8-2-1 record in road matches.
UTAH VALLEY REMAINS NO. 4 IN UNITED SOCCER COACHES PACIFIC REGION TOP-10 POLL
Utah Valley stayed at No. 4 in the United Soccer Coaches Pacific Region Top-10 poll for a second straight week. The Wolverines were receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Top-25 poll, earning votes in five straight polls from Aug. 20 to Sept. 10 earlier in the season.
WEBBER BREAKS UTAH VALLEY ALL-TIME CAREER GOALS RECORD
Faith Webber set the all-time Utah Valley career goals record by scoring her 41st goal in UVU's 4-3 win at Utah Tech last week, surpassing the previous mark of 40 held by current Washington Spirit player and former Wolverine Heather Stainbrook. Webber has reached this milestone in just her third season at UVU (2022-24), while Stainbrook's record was achieved over five seasons (2019-23). Webber (95) is 10 points away from tying Stainbrook's UVU career points record of 105 and needs 11 more points to break it.
WEBBER LEADS NATION IN SHOTS PER GAME, FIFTH IN SCORING
Utah Valley senior forward Faith Webber leads the country in shots per game (5.86) and ranks second in shots on goal per game (2.93). Webber is fifth in total goals (11) and eighth in total points (24). She also ranks 12th in the nation in goals per game (0.79). As a team, Utah Valley ranks second in the nation in total assists (45), fourth in total points (115), and seventh in total goals (35).
WE'RE GOING STREAKING!!!
Utah Valley is currently on a six-game winning streak, during which the team has outscored opponents 21-7. The streak includes three WAC victories, with the Wolverines starting conference play 3-0-0. UVU has won seven of its last eight games.
