Game #17
Who | Utah Tech (7-6-4, 3-3-2 WAC) at Utah Valley (10-4-2, 6-0-1 WAC)
When | Monday, Oct. 27 - 5 p.m. 
Where | Orem, Utah (UCCU Stadium)
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers

FREY AND OLSEN EARN WAC WEEKLY HONORS
Senior goalkeeper Brianna Frey and freshman defender Abby Olsen were named the Jersey Mike's A Sub Above WAC Goalkeeper and Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, the conference announced on Tuesday. It's Olsen's second career selection and UT's third and fourth WAC player of the week honors this season. 

Frey posted back-to-back shutouts against Tarleton State, 1-0, and Abilene Christian, 2-0, last week. Frey logged five saves against the Texans, silencing the second-highest scoring team in the WAC. Against ACU, she faced six shots but none on goal. Frey now ties for second in the WAC with three shutouts this season. With eight career clean sheets, Frey ranks fourth all-time in Utah Tech history. 

Olsen helped the Trailblazers to two shutouts and scored an insurance goal against ACU last week. Olsen and UT limited the Texans to 14 shots with just five on goal. Against the Wildcats, Olsen and the Trailblazers held a 22-6 lead in shots with a 10-0 margin in shots on goal. It was the first time Utah Tech held an opponent to zero shots on goal in UT's Division-I era, and the first time since September 2019 when the Trailblazers blanked Black Hills State. Olsen netted her goal in the 30th minute. Running a give-and-go with redshirt sophomore forward Lataya Brost, Olsen returned the ball to Brost, who dribbled inside the box and centered it. Olsen flicked a left-footer past the ACU GK and into the bottom right corner of the goal. It was her second career goal. Olsen also posted a career-high two shots on goal in the win.

OLSEN RECOGNIZED BY TDS
Freshman defender Abby Olsen was named to the TopDrawerSoccer Midseason Women's Freshmen Top 100, as announced on Oct. 10. Olsen is the first Trailblazer in program history to make the prestigious list, recognizing the top 100 freshmen in the country. Olsen has played in all 17 games this season, starting in 16 matches and totaling five points and 1,111 minutes. Olsen was named the WAC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 23 and Oct. 21.

ASSIST ADEPT
Senior midfielder Kyah Le leads the Trailblazers with eight assists this season, ranking second in the WAC and 18th nationally. Her eight assists this season are a UT Division I-era record and tie for third all-time. Le's 0.47 assists per game are second in the conference and 34th in the country. With four goals, Le's 16 points lead UT and rank sixth in the WAC.

Senior forward Lacy Fox has logged five assists, the most in a single season in her career, to tie for fifth in the WAC and 124th nationally. 

FRESHMAN FIREPOWER
Utah Tech's nine freshman goals lead the conference and account for four more than all five other teams' first-year goal totals combined. Southern Utah (3) and Tarleton State (2) are the only other WAC schools that have had at least one goal scored by a freshman this season. Forwards Jocelyn Wright (5) and Brooke Hendricks (2) and defender Abby Olsen (2) have each made tallies in the goal column. Wright leads the Trailblazers and is tied for sixth in the WAC in total goals.

BOOTS AT THE READY
Utah Tech is outshooting its opponents 241-205 this season, including an 108-79 edge in shots on goal. UT's 14.2 shots per game are second in the WAC and 107th nationally. Redshirt sophomore forward Lataya Brost is leading the charge, totaling 44 shots to lead the Trailblazers and rank third in the WAC.

The Trailblazers have outshot or tied their opponents' shot total in 11 of their 17 games this season. Defensively, UT has limited its opponents to 10 or fewer shots eight times this season.

LAST TIME OUT
Utah Tech women's soccer stumbled at California Baptist, 2-1, on Thursday night at CBU Soccer Stadium. Senior forward Lacy Fox scored her fourth goal of the season in the effort. Utah Tech claimed an early lead, 1-0, in the fifth minute. After sophomore midfielder Bre Koscielski's initial shot was blocked, she collected the rebound and set up Fox at the right corner of the box. She took a touch to the left and rocketed a left-footer into the back of the net. The Lancers tied the match at 1-1 in the 31st minute. California Baptist was given a penalty kick in the 54th minute after VAR review. CBU junior midfielder Anja Jestrovic converted from the mark to take a 2-1 lead. CBU outshot UT 11-9 with a 5-3 edge in shots on goal. The Lancers were charged with 10 more fouls, 16-6.

DÉJÀ VU
With WAC play in a double-round robin format this season, Utah Valley is the fourth opponent to rematch Utah Tech in 2025. It's the first year Utah Tech will play opponents twice during the regular season since 2021, when UT played its West Division foes twice in WAC conference play.

Utah Tech women's soccer kept pace with Utah Valley, 3-3, to draw the WAC leaders on Oct. 9 at Greater Zion Stadium. The Trailblazers snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Wolverines and spoiled a three-game UVU win streak with the draw. Freshman forward Jocelyn Wright gave the Trailblazers a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute. Senior midfielder Kyah Le set up Wright on the left side of the attacking third. From over 40 yards out, Wright dribbled past her defender and into the box, where she rocketed a right-footed shot to the left upper 90.  UVU tied the game in the 38th minute. A UT defender blocked an initial shot, but Wolverine junior forward Nixan Jackson cleaned up on the rebound with a shot to the right side of the net. UVU graduate forward Faith Webber scored on a penalty kick to give the Wolverines a 2-1 advantage in the 49th minute. In the 67th minute, junior midfielder Teagan Jaussi leveled the match at 2-2 with a right-footed goal. Junior forward Ella Rusick collected the loose ball after a UVU save in the 66th minute and sent a low cross right to Jaussi near the penalty mark. Jaussi buried the shot to score her first career Division I goal. Utah Valley responded with its third goal in the 68th minute, forcing a Trailblazer own goal to claim a 3-2 lead. Le scored the equalizer for Utah Tech in the 73rd minute. On the right side of the attacking third, senior forward Lacy Fox dribbled into the box and centered a ball toward Le, who hit a one-timer past the GK toward the left post and into the back of the net. It was Le's fourth goal and Fox's fourth assist of the season. Utah Valley outshot Utah Tech 28-13 and held a 13-9 advantage in shots on goal. 

SCOUTING UTAH VALLEY
The Wolverines host the Trailblazers after blitzing Southern Utah, 8-0, on Thursday night. Graduate forward Faith Webber scored a school-record five goals to lead UVU. Utah Valley is on a three-game win streak and has won six of its last seven, tying with Utah Tech, 3-3, on Oct. 9. 

Webber leads the WAC in shots (95), points (33) and goals (15). Nationally, Webber ranks first in shots per game (5.94), fourth in goals (15), fifth in points (33) and seventh in game-winning goals (5). Webber's name is written all over the UVU record book as she holds seven career records and eight single-season records.

Senior midfielder/forward Ruby Hladek is another key offensive player for UVU. She leads the conference in assists (9) and is second in the WAC in shots (48), points (31) and goals (11). Nationally, Hladek ranks sixth in assists (9), seventh in points (31) and 17th in goals (11). 

In net, senior goalkeeper Leah Wolf has posted a 1.40 goals against average with a .753 save percentage. She has logged 64 saves, one shutout and three combined shutouts this season. Wolf ranks in the top five in the WAC in all stats listed.

Utah Valley is among the nation's leaders in several statistical categories, ranking third in shots on goal per game (9.50), fourth in scoring offense (3.13), fourth in total goals (50), fourth in total points (148), sixth in shots per game (20.31), eighth in assists per game (3.00) and 12th in goal differential (+26). 

SERIES HISTORY
Monday's contest is the 11th meeting between Utah Tech and Utah Valley. The Wolverines hold a 7-1-2 lead all-time with a 4-0-1 edge in Orem. UT is seeking its first Division-I win over UVU and its first win over the Wolverines since 2007. This season's 3-3 tie in St. George broke a seven-game win streak for Utah Valley in the series.

CHASING HISTORY
In Utah Tech's all-time career record book, senior forward Lacy Fox ranks sixth in game-winning goals (6), sixth in career goals (20), eighth in points (49), eighth in shots (123) and eighth in shots on goal (60). The native of Highland, Utah, recorded UT's most recent hat trick against UNLV last season.

Senior goalkeeper Brianna Frey ranks first all-time in career saves (217), first in minutes (4,455), fourth in shutouts (8) and 10th in goals against average (1.54). 

THREE TRAILBLAZERS ON 2025 PRESEASON ALL-WAC TEAM
Senior forward Lacy Fox, senior midfielder Kyah Le and junior defender Michelle Rodriguez were selected to the 2025 Preseason All-WAC Team. This trio is the first Trailblazers named to the Preseason All-WAC Team since Karli Heaton was picked in 2023. Three honorees is the most UT has ever placed on the Preseason All-WAC team, topping one selection in 2023 (Heaton) and 2021 (Whitley Griffiths). 

Fox earned Second Team All-WAC honors in 2024 after leading the Trailblazers in goals (8, second-most in the WAC), points (18, third-most in the WAC), shots (40), shots on goal (18), and game-winning goals (2). Fox started 16 of her 17 appearances, totaling 1,086 minutes on the pitch, the most by any Trailblazer forward.

Le returns after starting all 17 games and playing 1,435 minutes on the pitch in 2024. Le tallied the second-most assists (3) and fourth-most points (5) on the 2024 Utah Tech squad. A veteran leader, Le is the only senior midfielder and one of three upperclassmen in the midfield for UT.

Rodriguez also started all 17 games last season, totaling 1,427 minutes and helping the Trailblazers shut out three opponents. 

2024 RECAP
Utah Tech made its third-straight WAC Tournament appearance after finishing sixth in the conference with seven points. After four straight losses to start conference play, UT rallied to secure points in each of its last three games on the road. Overall, the Trailblazers went 5-7-5 in their second year under head coach Lexi Brown. UT garnered four all-WAC selections with senior forward Lacy Fox and sophomore Bre Koscielski returning for the 2025 campaign. 

RETURNING PRODUCTION
The Trailblazers bring back 12 letter winners and four squad members from the 2024 team. Utah Tech's returners were responsible for 83% of goals (19-of-23), 58% of assists (11-of-19) and 75% of points (49-of-65) in 2024. Two 2024 All-WAC honorees remain in senior forward Lacy Fox (Second Team) and sophomore midfielder Bre Koscielski (All-WAC Freshman Team). 

Senior goalkeeper Brianna Frey returns after leading the WAC in saves per game (5.38), posting three shutouts and earning two WAC Goalkeeper of the Week selections in 2024.

Senior Tessa Thornton returns to action after missing the 2024 season due to injury. The five-foot-six forward totaled seven points on three goals and an assist in 2023. 

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
UT welcomed 11 newcomers, including two transfers and nine true freshmen, to its 2025 roster. 

Junior midfielder Teagan Jaussi transferred from DII Ouachita (Wah-CHI-tah) Baptist, where she led the Tigers in goals (6), assists (5) and points (17) on her way to earning United Soccer Coaches All-Central Region Team, D2 Conference Commissioners Association All-Region First Team and unanimous First Team All-Great American Conference honors. 

Redshirt freshman midfielder Liv Leonard defected from Grand Canyon after redshirting the 2024 campaign in Phoenix, Arizona. Leonard helped GCU go undefeated, playing in all matches during the Lopes' spring slate this offseason.

Utah Tech's freshman class features four forwards, two midfielders, three defenders and a goalkeeper. Freshman Rachel Boren is a forward and midfielder.

REPRESENTING THE 801
Two-thirds of Utah Tech's roster hails from the Beehive State. 16 of those 18 student-athletes' hometowns are on the Wasatch Front, a long and relatively narrow strip of land to the west of the Wasatch Mountains, where approximately 80% of Utahns live. 

THE SPOKANE CONNECTION
Head coach Lexi Brown was an assistant at Gonzaga for five seasons prior to accepting the top job in St. George. While in Spokane, Washington, Brown coached senior midfielder Kyah Le (GU 2022-23) and first-year assistant coach Lauren Towne (GU goalkeeper 2020-24). Additionally, sophomore midfielder Bre Koscielski and senior forward Tessa Thornton hail from Spokane. 

BIG SKY BOUND
Utah Tech announced this offseason that it will become a full member of the Big Sky Conference on July 1, 2026. The Trailblazers will join a robust women's soccer cohort that includes Eastern Washington, Idaho, Idaho State, Montana, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, Portland State and Southern Utah (The Thunderbirds will rejoin the Big Sky in 2026). The Big Sky has sent a team to the NCAA College Cup every season since 1999, with three squads making it as far as the second round. UT has a combined record of 12-5-6 all-time against its future conference mates, including three wins and a draw this season.

WHAT'S NEXT
The Trailblazers host rival Southern Utah for the regular season finale on Sunday, Nov. 2, at Greater Zion Stadium in St. George. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. with senior day festivities scheduled 20 minutes before the opening whistle.