(St George, UT - Aug 5, 2026) – Utah Tech women's soccer heads to Las Vegas, Nevada for a 2026 season tune-up versus UNLV at Peter Johann Memorial Field on Thursday, Aug. 6 at 7 p.m. PST / 8 p.m. MST.

EXHIBITION 1 of 1
Who | Utah Tech (0-0-0, 0-0-0 Big Sky) at UNLV (0-0-0, 0-0-0 MWC)
When | Thursday, Aug. 6 at 7 p.m. PST / 8 p.m. MST.
Where | Peter Johann Memorial Field - Las Vegas, Nevada
Social Media | Instagram - X - #UtahTechisHere - #BigSkyWSOC

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.

2025 SEASON RECAP
Utah Tech finished the 2025 campaign at 8-7-5 (4-4-2 WAC) good enough for a 3rd place finish with a semifinal defeat in the WAC Tournament semifinal in their final season as members of the Western Athletic Conference. This was the 4th straight conference tournament appearance for UT. The Trailblazers tallied a program-record eight All-WAC Selections and freshman forward Jocelyn Wright was named the WAC Freshman of the Year. 

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. 

REBEL REPORT
The UNLV Rebels posted a 4-10-5 (2-4-4 MWC) record in the 2025 season, missing the conference tournament but finishing the season with a 2-1 win over rival Nevada. 

Kacey Bingham will begin her tenure as the head coach of the Rebels, after being hired in December of 2025. Bingham spent the previous seven seasons as the head coach of Western Oregon. UNLV also brought in four new assistant coaches to the staff, as UNLV will look to reach the peak in the restructured Mountain West Conference. 

The Rebels signed seven players in their 2026 high school recruiting class, and added five transfers in the portal window. 

This is the first of two exhibitions for UNLV, as they will take on Arizona Western on Sunday, Aug. 9. 

SERIES HISTORY
Although this match is an exhibition, Utah Tech holds an all-time 2-0-1 record over the Rebels. The last meeting came on Aug. 21, 2025, as UT and UNLV drew 1-1. 

ON DECK
Utah Tech will open their 2026 regular season with a road match at UC Irvine on Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 6 p.m. PST / 7 p.m. MST.