Who | Utah Tech (3-2-4, 0-0-0 WAC) vs. Grand Canyon (6-4-1, 0-0-0 WAC)
When | Saturday, Sept. 28 - 8 p.m. (MT)
Where | GCU Stadium - Phoenix, Ariz.
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers

CONFERENCE OPENER
Saturday's match is UT's 2024 conference opener as the Trailblazers begin their fifth slate of WAC conference play. Utah Tech is 14-20-8 all-time in WAC games, with the Trailblazers' best season coming in 2022 when they notched a conference record of 6-3-2. 

LAST TIME OUT
Utah Tech wrapped up non-conference play with a 1-1 draw at Portland State last Friday. After a scoreless first half, freshman Emily Blanchard netted her first career goal on her first career shot and shot on goal in the 55th minute. Fellow freshman Lexi Nelson assisted Blanchard to earn her first career assist and point. The Vikings leveled the game at 1-1 in the 83rd minute to avoid the home loss. The Trailblazers were outshot 18-15 in the match, but were even in shots on goal with 7 each. In net, junior Brianna Frey recorded six saves for UT. The Vikings tripled the Trailblazers' number of fouls with the margin ending at 12-4 on the night. 

SCOUTING GRAND CANYON
GCU enters conference play 6-4-1, but having lost its last two matches to Incarnate Word  and No. 10 Utah State. The Antelopes have earned wins over Charleston Southern, Little Rock, North Dakota State, Air Force, Northern Arizona and Nevada. Grand Canyon has scored 14 goals and allowed eight. Ellie Crisler leads GCU with three goals while three other Antelopes have scored two. 

Grand Canyon leads the conference in yellow cards (9), while ranking second in assists per game (1.64), shots per game (16.82) and total assists (18). The Antelopes are third in the WAC in goal differential (+6), goals-against average (0.727) and shutout percentage (0.455). 

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's match will be the 19th all-time meeting between UT and GCU, with the Antelopes holding a 9-6-3 advantage. In Phoenix, the series is even at 3-3-1. 

TRY TO GET PAST FREY
Junior Brianna Frey is leading the WAC in saves per game (5.22), which ranks 52nd in the nation. Frey is also second in the conference in total saves (47), which ranks 38th in the country. Frey has posted two shutouts this season and has four in her career, which ties her for ninth all-time in career shutouts at Utah Tech.

'FOX,' NO PRINTER
Junior Lacy Fox is tied for the best penalty-kick percentage in the nation, converting PKs against UNLV and at Idaho for a perfect 100% rate this season. Fox is third in the WAC in total goals (5), which ranks 81st in the nation. Fox is also third in total points (11) in the conference, which ranks 139th in the country. 

CHASING HISTORY
Among Utah Tech's career records, junior Brianna Frey ranks fifth in saves (116), eighth in goalkeeper minutes (2,115), tied for ninth in shutouts (4) and 10th in goals-against average (1.53). Junior Lacy Fox is tied for sixth all-time in game-winning goals with five. 

NEW AND FAMILIAR FACES
Along with adding 14 new players to the roster during the offseason, the Trailblazer squad has 23 returning players from last season. The new signing class in St. George includes Gonzaga transfer Kyah Le, Colorado Northwestern Community College transfer Cadie Young, Utah State transfer Heidi Wilstead, and nine true freshmen. The class includes four midfielders (Le and Young along with Bre Koscielski and Jenna McDonnell), three forwards (Wilstead along with Emily Blanchard and Ella Cotter), four defenders (Ali Warner, Lexi Nelson, Adele Faller, Allison Flies), and one goalkeeper (Emma McIff).  

WHAT'S NEXT
Utah Tech will open October by hosting WAC-foe Utah Valley on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 5 p.m. in its conference home-opener at Greater Zion Stadium.