UTAH VALLEY CONTINUES ROAD PLAY AT UCF, #21 VIRGINIA
After opening the season last week with a pair wins in Michigan, Utah Valley continues road play as the team travels to play Big 12 foe UCF on Thursday and No. 21 Virginia on Sunday. Thursday's match against the Knights is set to kickoff at 3:30 p.m. (MT) while Sunday's game will begin at 11 a.m. (MT). Both matches will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
Utah Valley comes into the week with a 2-0 record after picking up a 2-1 win at Michigan and a 5-2 win at Detroit Mercy last week in the Great Lakes State. The Wolverines are now receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Top-25 poll.
Faith Webber earned WAC Offensive Player of the Week honors after scoring three goals in UVU's two wins last week. Webber recorded a brace, including the game winner in the final seconds in the 2-1 win at Michigan. She then scored a goal and assisted the game winner in UVU's 5-2 win at Detroit Mercy. Ruby Hladek also had an impressive week with two goals and a pair of assists in the win over Detroit Mercy. Mia Owens scored the game winner in the win over Detroit Mercy, while Sadie Beardall also added a goal against the Titans. CJ Graham led UVU in goal with six saves and a win over the two matches. Leah Wolf picked up the win in goal against Detroit Mercy.
BROADCAST INFO
Utah Valley's matches at UCF and Virginia will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
ABOUT UCF
The UCF women's soccer team enters its 2024 home opener against Utah Valley on Thursday with a 1-0-0 record after a dominant 5-1 victory at Florida Atlantic. Senior forward Chloe Netzel led the way with two goals and an assist, while freshman Edidiong Etim and Jessica McCullen each scored their first career goals. Preseason All-Big 12 honoree Netzel leads UCF in goals, points, and game-winning goals, while Hamano and Thompson each recorded two assists in the opener. Freshman keeper Sami Lipcon had four saves in her debut.
SERIES HISTORY VS. UCF
Utah Valley and UCF will meet on the pitch for just the second time on Thursday night. The two teams last met on Aug. 25, 2022 in a game that finished in a double overtime 0-0 draw in Orem, Utah. Former Wolverine Idalia Serrano picked up the shutout in the box in the tie against the then-23rd ranked Knights.
ABOUT #21 VIRGINIA
The Virginia women's soccer team has started the 2024 season strong with two consecutive shutouts, earning victories over Towson (2-0) and Northwestern (2-0). Senior Maggie Cagle has been a key player, scoring a penalty in the opener and earning preseason All-ACC honors alongside Lia Godfrey. In the win over Northwestern, junior forward Meredith McDermott netted her first goal of the season, while an own goal sealed the victory. Defensively, ACC Defensive Player of the Week, Tatum Galvin, has anchored a back line that allowed only three shots on goal across both matches.
SERIES HISTORY VS. #21 VIRGINIA
Sunday's match against Virginia will mark the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
UTAH VALLEY RECEIVING VOTES IN UNITED SOCCER COACHES TOP-25 POLL, TEAM RANKED SECOND IN PACIFIC REGION POLL
Utah Valley is gaining national recognition as they received votes in this week's United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll for the fifth time in program history. The Wolverines earned 11 votes following an impressive opening week on the road, including wins over Michigan and Detroit Mercy. This is the fourth time in the past two seasons that UVU has received votes, including three times during the 2023 campaign. Utah Valley (2-0-0) started the season with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Michigan in Ann Arbor, secured by senior forward Faith Webber's game-winning goal with just 27 seconds remaining. The Wolverines continued their strong play with a 5-2 comeback win over Detroit Mercy, highlighted by Ruby Hladek's brace and Mia Owens' game-winning goal. Additionally, Utah Valley is ranked second in this week's United Soccer Coaches Pacific Region poll.
UTAH VALLEY OPENS SEASON WITH THRILLING WIN AT MICHIGAN IN FINAL SECONDS
Utah Valley opened its season with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Big Ten opponent Michigan on Thursday night in Ann Arbor. Faith Webber led the Wolverines with a brace, scoring two second-half goals, including the game-winner with just 27 seconds remaining.
WOLVERINES SCORE FOUR UNANSWERED GOALS IN SECOND HALF TO DEFEAT DETROIT MERCY, 5-1
Utah Valley secured a commanding 5-2 road victory over Detroit Mercy on Sunday night, powered by a brace from Ruby Hladek and a game-winning header from Mia Owens. Faith Webber added a goal and an assist in the win, capping off a strong team performance that saw the Wolverines dominate the second half and outshoot the Titans 30-6.
WEBBER NAMED WAC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AND TO TOP DRAWER SOCCER TEAM OF THE WEEK
Faith Webber was named the Western Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week after her stellar performances against Michigan and Detroit Mercy. Webber also earned a spot on the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week. Webber played a crucial role in Utah Valley's undefeated start to the season, scoring three goals and adding an assist over the two-game stretch. In the Wolverines' season opener, Webber notched a brace with two second-half goals, including the thrilling game-winner with just 27 seconds left on the clock, to lift UVU to a 2-1 victory over Big Ten opponent Michigan. She followed that performance by contributing another goal in the 5-2 win over Detroit Mercy, while also assisting on the game-winning goal.
