Who | Utah Tech (1-5-2, 0-0-0 WAC) vs. California Baptist (1-3-4, 0-0-0 WAC)
When | Thursday, Oct. 3 - 7:30 p.m.
Where | Greater Zion Stadium - St. George, Utah
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers

CONFERENCE OPENER
Thursday's match is UT's 2024 conference opener as the Trailblazers begin their fifth slate of WAC conference play. Utah Tech is 11-22-3 all-time in WAC games, with the Trailblazers' best season coming last year as UT finished third with a 4-4 conference record.

LAST TIME OUT
Utah Tech wrapped up non-conference play, falling 4-2 at UC Irvine on Sept. 21. After falling behind 3-0, junior Oliver Stone beat the UC Irvine keeper on a penalty kick to break up his shutout in the 70th minute. Less than nine minutes later, senior Angel Saldana scored on a header with assists from Bryce Backlund and Jerod Allen. The Anteaters would add an insurance goal in the 80th minute to cap off a 4-2 win. UCI outshot UT 27-9, but the Trailblazers recorded nine saves to the Anteaters' two. UC Irvine committed 18 fouls, tripling Utah Tech's six. 

SCOUTING CALIFORNIA BAPTIST
The Lancers enter conference play 1-3-4, after drawing 0-0 with crosstown rival UC Riverside. California Baptist's lone win of the season came against CSU Bakersfield, 4-1, on Aug. 31. Earlier in the season, the Lancers earned a 0-0 draw at then-No. 6 North Carolina and suffered a close 3-2 loss to then-No. 1 West Virginia. California Baptist has scored nine goals and allowed 10. 

Lancer goalkeeper Hugo Do Rego ranks third in the nation in total saves (49) and saves per game (6.13) while coming in at 10th in save percentage (.831), 31st in shutouts (3), 72nd in goalie minutes played (720) and 100th in goals against average (1.25). Do Rego is the reigning WAC Goalkeeper of the Week, an honor he has won four times this season.

California Baptist leads the WAC in save percentage (.831) and is tied for first in penalty kick percentage (1.000). The Lancers rank second in the conference in red cards (2) and saves per game (6.13) while coming in at third in team goals against average (1.25).

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's match will be the 14th all-time meeting between UT and CBU, with the Lancers holding a 10-2-1 advantage. In St. George, California Baptist leads 3-2-0. 

THEY CALL HIM 'STOP'-TON
Junior goalkeeper Stockton Short leads the nation in saves per game (6.63) this season, helping the Trailblazers lead the country in saves per game (6.75). Short is also second in the nation in total saves (53), 72nd in goalie minutes played (720) and 73rd in save percentage (.746).

ASSIST ADEPT
Redshirt junior Bryce Backlund ranks third in the WAC in assists (3) and 85th in the nation, leading the Trailblazers. Backlund also leads UT in points with five from one goal scored against UC Riverside and assists dished out against CSU Fullerton, then-No. 18 Portland and UC Irvine. 

BALANCED OFFENSE
Utah Tech has eight different goal-scorers, with 11 total Trailblazers earning at least one point this season. Sophomore Jason Buezo, senior Damian Arguello and sophomore Austin Wallace have all notched at least 10 shots and four shots on goal this season. The Trailblazers are also a perfect 100% on penalty kick opportunities, which is tied for first in the nation, as sophomore Samir Cuevas and junior Oliver Stone scored from the penalty mark against UC Riverside and UC Irvine, respectively.

STAY CAUTIOUS
Utah Tech is 15th in the nation in yellow cards (26), coming in at second in the WAC behind San José State (28). Senior Damian Arguello has found himself on officials' minds as he has racked up five cautions which is tied for first in the nation. Redshirt junior Ethan Bell, sophomore Manu Montserrat and sophomore Austin Wallace are tied for 81st in the nation with three yellow cards apiece. 

CHASING HISTORY
Among Utah Tech's career records, junior Stockton Short is tied for third in saves (134), fourth in minutes played (2,745), fourth in wins (10), fifth in shutouts (4) and sixth in goals against average (1.61).

WHAT'S NEXT
Utah Tech will host San Diego State on Sunday, Oct. 6, at 1:30 p.m. at Greater Zion Stadium.