Utah Valley University Athletics

OREM—Utah Valley opened Big West play in emphatic fashion, scoring a season-high seven goals in a 7-1 victory over Cal State Bakersfield in the Wolverines' first-ever Big West contest in any sport Wednesday night at UCCU Stadium.

Utah Valley improves to 5-4-1 overall and 1-0-0 in Big West play with the win, while Cal State Bakersfield falls to 1-8-1 overall and 0-1-0 in league action.

"We've talked about this being our first opportunity to play in the Big West, and we were the first program to have that opportunity," Utah Valley head coach Chris Lemay said. "This was a big deal for us, changing conferences, and we're excited about being in the Big West. We talked all week about making a big statement, and I think we did that."

Sadie Beardall and Brynlee Austin each recorded a brace as five different Wolverines found the back of the net. Nixan Jackson added a goal and played a role in multiple scoring chances as Utah Valley erupted for five second-half goals.

Jackson created the opening goal in the 10th minute, racing down the right side and beating a CSUB defender before sending a cross toward goal. The ball deflected off the Roadrunner goalkeeper and fell to Beardall, who knocked it across the goal line to give Utah Valley a 1-0 lead.

Cal State Bakersfield answered less than three minutes later. Tanie Tapia played a long ball from midfield that sprung CJ Walters on the counterattack, and Walters finished the opportunity to even the match at 1-1 in the 12th minute.

Utah Valley regained the lead in the 29th minute. Sam Curtis played the ball wide to Jackson near the right corner of the box. Jackson took on a defender, cut to her left and fired a left-footed shot from about 15 yards out into the net for a 2-1 advantage.

The Wolverines carried that lead into halftime before breaking the match open after the break.

"I think we definitely put our foot on the gas in the second half," Lemay said. "We talked at halftime about upping our tempo a little bit. It's not that we played poorly in the first half, but we cranked it up one gear, and that's what it was going to require to create more chances and find more openings. Credit to them, they reacted well to what we discussed."

Beardall struck again less than two minutes into the second half. Quinn Rustand found Isabella Stewart on the right side, and Stewart delivered a cross into the box that Beardall headed into the net for a 3-1 lead in the 47th minute.

Jackson helped create another goal six minutes later. Beardall headed a lead pass down the right side to Jackson, who carried the ball into the box and sent a cross to Josie Clawson. Clawson finished from close range to extend Utah Valley's advantage to 4-1 in the 53rd minute.

"Nixan did a really good job controlling the game," Lemay said. "She gets the goal, but I thought her vision and finding her teammates was really good tonight. There is no doubt in my mind that Nixan is one of the most talented forwards in the country. She's a talented athlete and a very good soccer player."

Utah Valley added its fifth goal in the 77th minute when Sam Curtis sent a corner kick into the box and Tess Livingston headed it home.

Austin then scored twice over the final eight minutes to put the finishing touches on the Wolverines' highest-scoring performance of the season. Addie Olson worked around a defender on the right side of the box and sent a ball into the area for Austin, who settled it, cut to her left and fired a right-footed shot inside the near post in the 83rd minute.

Olson connected with Austin again in the 88th minute, laying the ball off near the top of the box before Austin one-timed it into the back of the net to complete her brace and make it 7-1.

Utah Valley dominated the statistical sheet, outshooting Cal State Bakersfield 31-3, including a 16-3 advantage in shots on goal. The Wolverines also held a 7-0 edge in corner kicks. Kate Shirts led UVU with four shots, while five different Wolverines recorded two shots on goal.

Madeleine Boucher played the opening 80:11 in goal and recorded one save. Mia Roberts finished the final 9:49 and also collected one save.