(Moscow, ID – Oct 21, 2026) – Utah Tech women's soccer looks to end their regular season on high note as they will play their final three matches away from Greater Zion Stadium, starting on Thursday against Idaho. 

REGULAR SEASON: MATCH 16, BIG SKY 7
Who | Utah Tech (7-6-2, 3-2-1 Big Sky) at Idaho (7-3-4, 1-1-2 Big Sky)
When | Thursday, Oct 22 at 8 p.m. MST
Where | P1FCU Kibbie Dome, Moscow, ID
Watch | ESPN+
Stats | Live Stats
Social Media | Instagram - X - #UtahTechisHere - #BigSkyWSOC

LAST TIME OUT
Utah Tech women's soccer fell in their final home match of the 2026 season, 2-0 to Northern Arizona on Sunday afternoon.

Both sides were able to muster five shots in the first half, but only two total on target and both were by the Trailblazers.  The Trailblazer shots on goal came just under 40 seconds apart, as Nicole Choren and Ella Rusick tested both sides of the Northern Arizona netminder, but were turned away.

The first half ended scoreless, with most statistics being even besides Utah Tech owning the corner advantage 2-1.

NAU started the second half on the aggression, getting the first three shots off. The third came off the foot of Valerie Llamas, set up by the Big Sky Preseason Player of the Year, Micala Boex, who then got a shot past Emma McIff for the first time in three matches, to open the scoring and give the Lumberjacks the lead. 

The Lumberjacks kept the pressure on, and Valerie Llamas found herself with the ball in a dangerous area yet again. She was able to create enough space, and put another one in the back of the net to double the NAU lead. 

The Trailblazers would then ramp up the pressure, generating some dangerous chances, but NAU keeper Lexi Saveski was able to keep UT off the scoreboard, recording her league-leading seventh shutout.

QUICK VANDAL VIEW
The Idaho Vandals enter Thursday night's match coming off of an 11 day layoff as they had their bye. The previous result they had was also against Northern Arizona, where they also were shut out. The loss was Idaho's first of conference play, having a win and two draws in their other matches. 

The Vandals were selected just ahead of Utah Tech in the Big Sky Preseason Coaches Poll, also receiving four first-place votes. Georgia Whitehead, Sara Rodgers, and Izzy Thoma were selected to the preseason all-conference team. 

Hallie Prinos-Grumbach leads Idaho offensively with three goals and seven points. Paula Flores has started all 14 matches for the Vandals, recording 23 saves and allowing just 0.65 goals per game. 

SERIES HISTORY
This will be the third all-time meeting between these two programs. The last matchup came in 2024 in Moscow, which saw four second-half goals, two by each team, result in a 2-2 draw. Idaho won the inaugural meeting between the two in 2023 in St George. 

2026 NON-CONFERENCE RECAP
The Trailblazers held a 4-4-1 record in the non-conference portion of their 2026 schedule. The four wins in non-conference matches the total from last year, and is the most since 2023 where UT won five. 

Utah Tech posted a 3-2 record at home including wins over Utah and Colorado State. The win over Utah was the first win over the Big12 Conference in program history, and the Colorado State victory was the first over a Pac12 Conference opponent. 

UTAH TECH PICKED THIRD IN COACHES' POLL
Utah Tech women's soccer is predicted to finish third (63 points, 1 first place vote) in their inaugural season in the Big Sky Conference Preseason Poll. This marks the second year in a row that UT has been picked to finish 3rd in the conference preseason poll, and ties the program's highest projected finish. The Trailblazers are one of three teams to receive a first place vote. 

Weber State (74 points and four 1st place votes) is selected as the preseason favorite and had three athletes selected to the 2026 Preseason All-Big Sky Team. Just behind the Wildcats is Idaho (70 points and three 1st place votes). 

TWO TRAILBLAZERS ON 2026 PRESEASON ALL-BIG SKY TEAM
UT landed two players on the 2026 Preseason All-Big Sky Team in Jocelyn Wright and Bre Koscielski. This is the second season in a row that Utah Tech has had multiple players selected to the preseason all-conference team, having three selected last year.

Jocelyn had quite the decorative season last year, as she earned the 2025 WAC Freshman of the Year Award, was 2nd team all-WAC, and was named to the 2025 WAC all-freshman team. She led UT in goals (6), and was third in both shots (29) and shots on goal (18) in 2025.

Bre had a solid 2025 campaign coming off her 2024 WAC all-freshman team honors. She set career highs in goals (4), assists (5), shots (26), and shots on goal (10) en route to earning 2nd team all-WAC.

RETURNING PRODUCTION
The Trailblazers return 16 players from last year's team, including Jocelyn Wright and Bre Koscielski who were listed on the 2026 Preseason All-Big Sky Team. All three players named to the 2025 WAC All-Freshman team returned for this season, including Abby Olsen who also was named to the 2025 All-WAC 1st Team. 

NEW TRAILBLAZERS IN TOWN
UT brought in seven high school athletes as a part of their 2026 recruiting class, as well as three athletes via the transfer portal. The Trailblazers welcome student-athletes from three states, including five from Utah. 

Salt Lake Community College transfer Elle Rafajko looks to make an immediate impact as the Trailblazers lose their starting goalie from a year ago to graduation. Rafajko is the reigning back-to-back Scenic West Athletic Conference Goalkeeper, and a 2024 NJCAA Second Team All-American. She posted 8 shutouts with a 0.44 goals against average and a .901 save percentage. 

A freshman to watch this year is CC Malohifo'ou from Saratoga Springs, Utah. CC represents Tonga on its international team, playing in the 2025 U19 Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) World Cup Qualifiers. She logged a hat trick to help the Kingdom secure a spot in the championships. In 2024, Malohifo'ou led Tonga's U16 squad to its first-ever medal, taking bronze in the OFC World Cup Qualifiers.

HELLO BIG SKY
Utah Tech joined the Big Sky Conference officially on July 1, 2026, in all Big Sky sponsored sports. Southern Utah also made the jump over from the Western Athletic Conference, where they once called the Big Sky home before their brief tenure in the WAC.

Utah Tech will begin conference play on Oct 1, with a home match versus Portland State. UT had a strong 4-0-1 record versus Big Sky opponents last year, including a sweep of rival Southern Utah. Last season's mark pushed the Trailblazers' overall record to 13-5-6 versus Big Sky opposition.