Who | Utah Tech (8-7, 4-3 WAC) vs No. 22 Seattle U (10-2-3, 5-0-1 WAC)
When | Thursday, Oct. 26 – 7 p.m.
Where | Greater Zion Stadium – St. George, Utah
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers

Scouting the Competition:
The No. 22 ranked Redhawks have posted a 3-0 record against Utah Tech in the all-time series, including a 2-1 victory at Greater Zion Stadium last year that saw Kyle Walbruch score his first of the season. Stockton Short made six saves while the Trailblazers posted 13 total shots and two corner kicks.
 
This season Seattle U has posted a 10-2-3 record that includes an unbeaten 5-0-1 stretch against WAC opponents. The Redhawks are currently on an eight-game unbeaten streak that includes six victories, winning the last three-consecutive matches. SU was most recently at home, hosting California Baptist (W, 3-0) and San Jose State (W, 2-1). James Morris' 10 goals and six assists both lead the team while Charlie Lanphier is up to 32 saves across 12 appearances between the posts; Lanphier has also accounted for five clean sheets.

Program Record
Utah Tech's strong 2023 campaign continued with another win over the weekend, defeating the Grand Canyon Lopes 1-0 on the road for the team's eighth victory of the season. The team finished 4-12-2 in 2022, meaning the Trailblazers have officially doubled their win total from last season. After being picked to finish dead last in the conference to start the year, UT's eight victories continues to set a new program record for its Division-I era.

Arizona Connection
The Trailblazers had several Arizona natives come up big in Phoenix on Thursday. Jerod Allen (Sierra Vista, Ariz.) fed Bryce Backlund (Gilbert, Ariz.) who scored a 67^th minute game-winner against GCU. Phoenix native Angel Saldana started on the back line and helped UT post its third clean sheet of the 2023 season in the process across his 90 minutes of action.

Short's Big Day
Just three days after posting his third clean sheet of the season, Stockton Short had a huge game in the Trailblazers' matchup against California Baptist on Sunday, tying a career-high with seven saves. A sophomore from Pleasant View, Utah, Short made seven saves against the Lancers last season and had another seven save performance against CSU Bakersfield earlier this year.
 
Playing Clean
The Trailblazers have largely maintained a clean style of play this season, having drawn more fouls (198) than they've committed (176). Though the team has been given more yellow cards (33) than the teams they've faced (29), Utah Tech is yet to be given a red card this season while having three called against opponents.
 
Defensive Improvements
Utah Tech men's soccer allowed an average of 2.06 goals per game last season, 37 in total. Less than 12 months later, the program's defense has taken a huge step forward, allowing just 18 goals in total for an average of 1.2 per game, which is tied for second-lowest in the conference entering the final weekend of play. The lowest mark, held by Seattle U, is 1.13 goals against, with the Redhawks allowing just one fewer goal for the entire season.

A Team Effort
A balanced offense has fueled Utah Tech's improved this attack, with a jump from nine goals in 2022 to 16 goals in 2023, and the team has had 16 assists credited this season as well. AJ Ciampini leads the way with three assists while Bryce Backlund, Jerod Allen, Damian Arguello and Abigay Gomez all have two.
 
In Contention
Only Seattle U (16 points) and California Baptist (13 points) have clinched spots in the 2023 WAC Men's Soccer Tournament in Las Vegas, and UT leads the way among the remaining teams vying for those last four spots.
 
Utah Tech (12 points), UNLV (11 points), San Jose State (10 points), Utah Valley (eight points), Grand Canyon (seven points), UTRGV (four points) and Air Force (one point) round out the conference's standings entering the final weekend of play.