UTAH VALLEY OPENS SEASON IN THE GREAT LAKES STATE
The Utah Valley women's soccer team is set to officially kick off its 2024 season with a pair of road games in Michigan, starting with a matchup against the University of Michigan on Aug. 15, followed by a contest at Detroit Mercy on Aug. 18. The Wolverines enter the season fresh off impressive exhibition wins over third-ranked BYU and Idaho State. Faith Webber shined in these preseason games, scoring the game-winner in the 2-0 victory over No. 3 crosstown rival BYU and netting a hat trick in the 7-2 win against Idaho State. The opener at Michigan will serve as a homecoming for Webber, as the senior forward hails from the state.

Utah Valley comes into the 2024 season after an outstanding 2023 campaign, finishing with a 10-4-5 overall record and an unbeaten 7-0-2 mark in Western Athletic Conference play to secure its second consecutive regular-season WAC championship. The Wolverines return 15 letterwinners, including five starters from last year's title-winning squad.

Leading the charge for UVU is senior offensive powerhouse and Michigan native Faith Webber, who has tallied 30 goals over the past two seasons, including a UVU single-season record of 16 goals last year. Webber ranked fifth in the nation in scoring in 2023 and 11th nationally in total points with 36. She led the Wolverines in shots on goal per game (2.26) and total shots per game (4.05), placing her sixth in the country. Joining her up front are returners Ruby Hladek and Nixan Jackson, who each scored four goals last season, with Hladek leading the team with eight assists.

CJ Graham will be back in the box for the Wolverines after playing 14 games last season with an impressive 0.78 goals against average. She went 8-1-4 in goal with two solo shutouts and four combined clean sheets.

BROADCAST INFO
Utah Valley's match at Michigan will be broadcast live on the B1G+, while Sunday's match at Detroit Mercy will be streamed live on ESPN+.

ABOUT MICHIGAN
Michigan, under the leadership of head coach Jennifer Klein in her seventh season, is coming off a 7-7-4 record from last year, including an NCAA Tournament appearance. The Wolverines return three of their top four scorers from last season, with Gabrielle Prych leading the way with 14 goals. Key players to watch include Avery Kalitta, Jenna Lang, and goalkeeper Stephanie Sparkowski, who were recently named Big Ten Players to Watch. The team also adds seven newcomers to the roster this season.

SERIES HISTORY VS. MICHIGAN
Utah Valley and Michigan will meet up on the pitch for the second time on Thursday night. The Michigan Wolverines hold a 1-0 lead in the series, taking a 2-1 overtime win on Aug. 25, 2019. The two teams played to a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation in that match with Amber Tripp scoring the equalizer in the 54th minute. Michigan then took the win in overtime, 2-1, with a goal in the 93rd minute.  

ABOUT DETROIT MERCY
Detroit Mercy, coming off a 7-9-3 overall record and a 5-5 Horizon League finish last season, returns several key players for 2024. Abbey Lodato, who led the team with six goals and 14 points, is back, along with Ashley Bates and Hailey Matthews, who each scored three goals last season. 

SERIES HISTORY VS. DETROIT MERCY
Sunday's match against Detroit Mercy will mark the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

BACK-TO-BACK REGULAR SEASON WAC CHAMPIONS
Utah Valley won its second straight Western Athletic Conference regular season championship last season, going unbeaten in league play with a 7-0-2 record. Utah Valley outscored WAC opponents 35-3 last year. The Wolverines have won three WAC regular season championship over the past four seasons. UVU has won WAC regular season titles in 2020, 2022, and 2023. UVU has also won three WAC Tournament championships (2015, 2017, 2021).

UVU GOES A PERFECT 2-0 IN EXHIBITION PLAY
Utah Valley kicked off the 2024 season with two strong exhibition wins last week, defeating third-ranked BYU 2-0 and Idaho State 7-2. Faith Webber led the attack, scoring the game-winner against BYU and netting a hat trick versus Idaho State. CJ Graham earned the shutout in goal against BYU, while Leah Wolf secured the win in the box against Idaho State. 

UTAH VALLEY PICKED TO WIN THE WAC, FAITH WEBBER NAMED WAC PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Utah Valley has been selected to win the 2024 WAC title in the Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning 46 points and five first-place votes. Faith Webber, named WAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and a Preseason All-WAC selection, leads the Wolverines' offense. Webber, who has scored 30 goals in the past two seasons, including a UVU record 16 last year, ranked fifth nationally in scoring in 2023. She also earned All-WAC First Team honors in back-to-back seasons and is a two-time All-District honoree. 

WEBBER RANKED NO. 36 ON TOP DRAWER SOCCER'S TOP-100 LIST
Utah Valley University senior forward Faith Webber continues to earn national recognition, as she was ranked No. 36 on the prestigious Top Drawer Soccer Top-100 List, released on Tuesday.

GUESS WHO'S BACK....... BACK AGAIN
Faith Webber's journey from Grand Blanc, Michigan, to becoming a standout forward at Utah Valley University is marked by her exceptional talent. Last season, she tied for fifth in the nation with 16 goals, earning First Team All-WAC honors for a second straight season. Webber's impressive achievements include two All-Pacific Region honors and two of the 13 hat tricks in UVU history. Off the field, she excels academically with Academic All-District, United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American, and Academic All-WAC honors. Faith's diverse background includes a deep connection to her Michigan roots and the rapper Eminem (her newborn brother, Cooper Marshall Thomas, is named after Eminem (Marshall Mathers) as, as well as her recent experience becoming an ordained minister to officiate her mom's wedding. Her commitment to community involvement and environmental advocacy, along with her diverse hobbies (skateboarding, hiking, snowboarding, climbing), showcases her multifaceted personality. As she enters her final season at UVU, Faith is poised to leave a lasting legacy both on and off the field.