OREM—Utah Valley returns to UCCU Stadium on Saturday night to continue Big West play against Cal State Fullerton. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. MT.
Utah Valley enters the match with a 6-4-2 overall record and a 2-0-1 mark in its inaugural Big West season. The Wolverines are unbeaten through their first three conference matches after opening league play with a 7-1 home victory over Cal State Bakersfield, earning a 2-2 draw at UC San Diego and picking up a 3-1 road win at UC Irvine on Wednesday night.
Senior forward Sadie Beardall recorded her second brace in three matches in the victory over UC Irvine, scoring twice in the second half to help the Wolverines break a 1-1 tie. Senior forward Nixan Jackson opened the scoring in the 32nd minute with her fourth goal of the season.
Beardall has scored five goals through Utah Valley's first three Big West matches and leads the Wolverines with six goals this season. She has 14 points on six goals and two assists and ranks second in The Big West in total goals. Jackson leads UVU with 15 points on four goals and seven assists. Her seven assists rank seventh nationally and second in The Big West, while she has recorded three goals and two assists during conference play.
Senior midfielder Josie Clawson has added four goals this season, giving Utah Valley's senior trio of Jackson, Beardall and Clawson 14 of the team's 25 goals. The trio has combined for 37 points through 12 matches.
Utah Valley continues to rank among the top offensive teams in The Big West. The Wolverines lead the conference in assists per game (2.33), points per game (6.50), scoring offense (2.08 goals per game), shots per game (16.42), shots on goal per game (8.08), total assists (28), total goals (25) and total points (78). UVU ranks 17th nationally in total assists, 25th in shots on goal per game and 29th in total points.
The Wolverines have been especially productive over their last four matches, scoring 15 goals while going 3-0-1. Utah Valley defeated Weber State 3-0 before scoring seven against Cal State Bakersfield, two at UC San Diego and three at UC Irvine. UVU has outshot its opponents 96-34 during the four-match stretch.
Freshman goalkeeper Madeleine Boucher owns a 0.97 goals-against average and a .787 save percentage in 11 appearances. She has made 37 saves while allowing 10 goals in 932:21 and carries a 6-2-2 record with three shutouts.
Cal State Fullerton comes to Orem with a 5-2-4 overall record and, like Utah Valley, a 2-0-1 mark in Big West play. The Titans opened conference action with a 2-0 home win over UC Riverside, played to a 3-3 draw at CSUN and defeated Cal Poly 1-0 on Wednesday night at Titan Stadium.
Senior forward Cassie Villanueva leads Fullerton with 18 points on six goals and six assists. Villanueva has recorded at least one point in six straight matches and has produced a goal contribution in nine of the 10 matches she has played this season. She assisted on redshirt junior defender Skye Johnson's game-winning goal against Cal Poly.
Junior forward Sasha Amezcua and senior midfielder Camryn Cruz have each scored three goals for the Titans. Amezcua leads The Big West with 3.18 shots per match and has taken 35 shots, including 16 on goal. Senior forward/midfielder Sail Bozinovic has two goals and two assists for six points.
Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Allison Craycroft has started 10 matches for Fullerton and owns a 5-2-3 record with four shutouts. She has posted a 1.73 goals-against average with 35 saves in 830:41 of action.
Fullerton is averaging 15.55 shots and 7.09 shots on goal per match, ranking second in The Big West in both categories behind Utah Valley. The Titans lead the conference and rank seventh nationally with 8.27 corner kicks per match.
Saturday will mark the third all-time meeting between Utah Valley and Cal State Fullerton, with the series tied 1-1-0. The Titans won the first meeting 3-0 in Fullerton in 2017 before the Wolverines earned a 2-1 victory in Orem in 2019. Saturday will be the first meeting between the programs as Big West opponents.
The match will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Brandon Crow on play-by-play and former Wolverine standout Amber Tripp serving as analyst. Tickets for Saturday night's match are available at GoUVU.com/GetTix.
