OREM, Utah — Fresh off a season-opening victory over in-state rival Utah, Utah Valley University will now hit the road to take on No. 23 Kansas on Thursday night at Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence, Kansas. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
Utah Valley (1-0) opened its 2025 campaign in front of a record-setting crowd at the brand-new UCCU Stadium, earning a 2-0 shutout win over Utah in the first-ever match at the $30 million facility. Ruby Hladek and Nixan Jackson scored early first-half goals, while senior goalkeeper Leah Wolf collected a career-high 11 saves to secure the clean sheet. Wolf's performance tied for the fourth-most saves in a single match in program history, and she was named the WAC Goalkeeper of the Week for her efforts. Senior defender Taylor Nelson also picked up WAC Defensive Player of the Week honors after anchoring the Wolverine back line in the victory.
Thursday's contest marks UVU's second straight matchup against a Big 12 opponent following Monday's win. The meeting will also be the first-ever between Utah Valley and Kansas on the pitch.
Scouting Kansas
Kansas (2-0-0), the defending Big 12 champions, enters Thursday's match nationally ranked at No. 23 and is also receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Top-25 poll. The Jayhawks are coming off a 1-0 win over South Dakota State on Sunday, with junior transfer Livvy Moore netting the game-winner in the 57th minute and sophomore goalkeeper Sophie Dawe earning her ninth career shutout. Kansas was picked fifth in this year's Big 12 preseason poll—its highest projection since 2015—and has limited opponents to just five shots combined through its first two matches.
One of the Jayhawks' top standouts is junior defender Caroline Castans, who was recently named to the prestigious 2025 Hermann Trophy Watch List. Castans started all 23 matches last season, led the team in minutes played (1,889), and contributed three goals and six assists. Kansas is under the direction of second-year head coach Nate Lie and has opened with back-to-back 2-0-0 starts for the first time since 2019–20.
Series History
Thursday's match will be the first all-time meeting between Utah Valley and Kansas.
Following Thursday's game at Kansas, Utah Valley will return to Orem to host ACC foe California on Thursday, Aug. 28 at UCCU Stadium.
