Game #18
Who | No. 6 Utah Tech (4-9-4, 3-4-2 WAC) vs. No. 3 California Baptist (5-7-5, 4-4-1 WAC)
When | Sunday, Nov. 10 - 7:00 p.m.
Where | GCU Stadium - Phoenix, Ariz.
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers

CERTIFIED ALL-WAC
Senior Damian Arguello and sophomore Samir Cuevas were selected to the All-WAC Second Team and freshman Tanner Dutra earned a spot on the WAC All-Freshman Team, it was announced by the conference on Friday. The nod is Cuevas' second all-conference honor as he was recognized on the WAC All-Freshman Team last season. 

HERE FOR REVENGE
Utah Tech is making its second-ever appearance in the WAC Tournament after advancing to the semifinals last year. In 2023, the Trailblazers defeated San José State 1-0 before getting knocked out by eventual champions California Baptist 2-0 in the semifinals. This time around, the Trailblazers and Lancers matchup in the quarterfinals.

LAST TIME OUT
Utah Tech men's soccer clinched a spot in the WAC Tournament with a 2-1 win over UNLV on senior day at Greater Zion Stadium. The Trailblazers erased a 1-0 deficit with two first-half goals to secure the victory. The Rebels struck first with a goal on a breakaway in the eighth minute. Sophomore Lucas Gélébart sent a through ball to sophomore Kai Merrill who buried his shot in the bottom right of the net. Redshirt freshman Tanner Dutra tied the game with a header off a corner kick by sophomore Jason Buezo in the 15th minute. It was the Trailblazers' first shot of the match and Dutra's first career goal. In the 18th minute, goalkeeper Stockton Short stopped a shot to his right for his first save of the afternoon. Short earned his second save of the match on a Rebel shot down the middle in the 29th minute. Sophomore Samir Cuevas stole the ball off a Rebel defender and launched a chip over the UNLV goalkeeper and into the back of the net in the 42nd minute. The game-winning goal was Cuevas' fourth of the season and third in the last four matches. The Trailblazers survived a barrage of seven shots in the second half to maintain their 2-1 lead. Short flashed diving saves on a Rebel header in the 77th minute and a shot to the bottom right of the net in the 89th minute to total four saves on the afternoon. UNLV outshot the Trailblazers 11-9 with a 5-2 lead in shots on goal. The Rebels committed more fouls, 14-11, and did not muster a save in the contest. 

SCOUTING CALIFORNIA BAPTIST
The Lancers face Utah Tech after falling at home to Utah Valley 1-0 last Sunday. CBU finished WAC play in third with a record of 4-4-1, including wins over Utah Tech, San José State, Grand Canyon and Air Force. California Baptist tied with UNLV 2-2. 

The defending champions of the WAC Tournament will look to keep their crown for the third year in a row after winning the tourney in 2022 and 2023.

Offensively, CBU is led by freshman Blake D'Agostino who leads the team in goals (5), points (10), shots (27) and shots on goal (15). Goalkeeper Hugo Do Rego totaled four shutouts this season on 82 saves with a goals-against average of 1.31 in 16 starts.

California Baptist landed five All-WAC selections this season with midfielder Stavros Charalampous on the first team, goalkeeper Hugo Do Rego and defender David Cordes on the second team and forwards Blake D'Agostino and Andrew Lovell on the freshman team. 

The Lancers lead the WAC in save percentage (.800) and rank second in saves per game (5.18). Nationally, CBU is ninth in saves per game (5.18), 11th in save percentage (.800), tied for 33rd in red cards (two) and tied for 82nd in yellow cards (34). 

SERIES HISTORY
Sunday's match will be the 16th all-time meeting between UT and CBU. The Lancers lead the series at 12-2-1. California Baptist won 2-1 in St. George this season, overcoming a 1-0 deficit with two second-half goals. In neutral games, CBU leads 1-0-0 with a 2-0 win in last season's WAC Tournament semifinal round. 

UT BY THE NUMBERS
Nationally, Utah Tech ranks second in saves per game (6.12), tied for 11th in yellow cards (46), tied for 13th in red cards (3), 18th in save percentage (.788), 74th in fouls per game (10.88) and 82nd in shot accuracy (.431). Utah Tech leads the WAC in saves per game (6.25) and yellow cards (46) and is second in the conference in fouls per game (10.88), save percentage (.788) and red cards (3). 

THEY CALL HIM 'STOP'-TON
Junior goalkeeper Stockton Short is second in the nation in total saves (100) and saves per game (5.88). Short is also tied for 12th in goalie minutes played (1,530) and 28th in save percentage (.781).

Short was named WAC Men's Soccer Goalkeeper of the Week on Oct. 14 after combining for 16 saves, a shutout and allowing one goal off a penalty kick in games at San José State and Seattle U.

Short earned his first career assist on a goal kick, helping set up the game-winning goal against Grand Canyon.

BALANCED OFFENSE
Utah Tech has 12 different goal-scorers, 17 point-earners and have had 18 Trailblazers put at least one shot on goal this season. Eight Trailblazers have at least four shots on goal this season with redshirt junior Ethan Bell and sophomore Samir Cuevas leading the way with 10 each.

STAY CAUTIOUS
Utah Tech is tied for 11th in the nation in yellow cards (46), leading the WAC. Redshirt sophomore Harrison Shaw leads the Trailblazers with six yellows, tied for 22nd-most in the nation, while senior Damian Arguello and sophomore Manu Monserrat tie for 55th in the nation with five cautions apiece. 

CHASING HISTORY
Among Utah Tech's career records, junior Stockton Short is third in saves (181), third in minutes played (3,555), fourth in wins (13), fourth in shutouts (6) and fifth in goals against average (1.49). On the single-season lists, Short is second in saves (100), seventh in minutes played (1,530) and tied for 10th in shutouts (2). With at least three saves against CBU, Short will hold the Utah Tech record for saves in a single, passing Zach Nielson's 102 saves in 2019.

WHAT'S NEXT
The winner of this quarterfinal match will advance to face No. 2 Seattle U in the semifinals on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+ live from GCU Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona.