OREM—Utah Valley University women's soccer wraps up its season-opening four-match homestand Thursday night as the Wolverines welcome nationally ranked No. 17/14 Kansas to UCCU Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. MT.
The match will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
Utah Valley enters the match with a 0-2-1 record after dropping a 1-0 decision to in-state rival Utah State on Monday night. The Aggies scored the match's lone goal in the 35th minute, while the Wolverines nearly found the equalizer after earning a penalty kick in the 74th minute that was saved.
Despite the result, Utah Valley finished with a 13-11 advantage in shots and an 8-3 edge in corner kicks. Emily Bergero made eight saves in goal, while Josie Clawson recorded a match-high four shots, including two on frame.
Through three matches, Utah Valley has outshot its opponents 39-36 and holds a 24-12 advantage in corner kicks. Freshman Sam Curtis leads the Wolverines with six shots, while Addie Olson and Clawson have five apiece. Olson has scored UVU's lone goal of the season, finding the back of the net in the season-opening 1-1 draw against Michigan.
Freshman goalkeeper Madeleine Boucher will be eligible to return Thursday after serving a one-match suspension against Utah State following a red card against Utah. Boucher has allowed one goal in 132:10 of action this season with eight saves, an .889 save percentage and a 0.68 goals-against average.
The Wolverines are looking for their first victory of the season after opening the year 0-2-1. It marks the first time since 2018 that Utah Valley has gone without a win through its first three matches. UVU also started the 2018 campaign with an 0-2-1 record.
Utah Valley is ranked No. 6 in the West Region in the latest IWSOC Coaches Poll in Partnership with United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women. The Wolverines are one of six Big West teams ranked in the region's top 10, joining No. 1 UC Santa Barbara, No. 2 Cal Poly, No. 4 California Baptist, No. 5 Long Beach State and No. 7 Sacramento State. The Big West occupies six of the top seven spots in the regional poll.
Kansas comes to Orem ranked No. 17 in the IWSOC national poll and No. 14 by TopDrawerSoccer. The Jayhawks are 3-1-0 after splitting two road matches last week, falling 1-0 at nationally ranked Ohio State before earning a 3-1 victory at Kent State on Sunday.
The Jayhawks have outscored their opponents 12-2 this season and hold a 65-21 advantage in shots and a 38-8 edge in corner kicks. Senior defender Caroline Castans and junior midfielder Jillian Gregorski lead Kansas with three goals apiece. Castans has a team-best seven points, while Gregorski leads the Jayhawks with 16 shots. Senior goalkeeper Sophie Dawe owns a 0.50 goals-against average with an .833 save percentage.
Kansas is in its third season under head coach Nate Lie, who owns a 32-13-7 record with the Jayhawks and a 114-50-26 career record in 10 seasons as a collegiate head coach.
Thursday marks the second all-time meeting between Utah Valley and Kansas and the Jayhawks' first trip to Orem. The teams met for the first time last season in Lawrence, where No. 23 Kansas held off the Wolverines for a 3-2 victory at Rock Chalk Park.
Kansas scored just 34 seconds into that match before Faith Webber tied it for UVU in the 22nd minute. The Jayhawks responded with two more first-half goals to take a 3-1 advantage into the break. Utah Valley controlled much of the second half and pulled within a goal on Ruby Hladek's header in the 85th minute but could not find the equalizer. The Wolverines finished with a 14-9 advantage in shots, including a 7-4 edge in the second half.
Following Thursday night's match, Utah Valley will make its first trip away from UCCU Stadium this season. The Wolverines travel to Oahu, Hawaii, for the OUTRIGGER No Ka Oi, where they will face Washington State on Sept. 3 and New Mexico State on Sept. 6.
