(St George, UT - Sept 5, 2026) – Utah Tech women's soccer returns to the field after three weeks off, opening Big Sky Conference play with two matches this week. UT will take on Portland State Thursday, and Montana on Sunday.

REGULAR SEASON: MATCH 10, BIG SKY 1
Who | Portland State (2-7-0, 0-0-0 Big Sky) at Utah Tech (4-4-1, 0-0-0 Big Sky)
When | Thursday, Oct 1 at 7 p.m. MST
Where | Greater Zion Stadium, St George, UT.
Watch | ESPN+
Stats | Live Stats
Social Media | Instagram - X - #UtahTechisHere - #BigSkyWSOC

LAST TIME OUT
Utah Tech women's soccer couldn't quite come all the way back after a three goal first half deficit, as they fell to CSUN 4-2 in their final match at home in the non-conference portion of their schedule.

It was a quick start for the Matadors as they struck on their first shot, just 96 seconds into the match. Both teams traded chances for the next 20 minutes of gameplay, but CSUN was able to finish a chance in the 22nd minute to extend the lead to 2-0. The goal was Yasmin Azar's second of the night. Quickly after the second goal, the Matadors added on, going up 3-0 just over 23 minutes into the match.

After a video assisted review of a potential foul in the box, challenged by Head Coach Lexi Brown and the staff, Utah Tech (4-4-1) was awarded a penalty kick. Redshirt junior Lataya Brost took the PK and buried it to get UT a little closer. The penalty goal was the Trailblazers' first of the season, and Brost's fourth goal of the 2026 campaign. 

The Blazers kept the pressure on, and in the 31st minute Ava Talaeai fired a shot off of the top woodwork. Lataya Brost found herself in the right place at the right time, able to control the rebound and head the ball into the net for her second goal of the night. This goal brought the Blazers within one, scoring two goals in just over six minutes.

Utah Tech came out of the half continuing the momentum built by the two consecutive scores to get them back into the game. UT outshot CSUN 5-3 in the first 25 minutes of the second half, including 2-0 on goal. However, the Trailblazers could not find the equalizer.

In the 74th minute, CSUN was able to get some separation as Keilani Claiborne scored to push the Matador lead to two. Both teams traded chances down the stretch, and the Matadors emerged victorious after an action-packed match, 4-2.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE
After having their final non-conference match against New Mexico canceled, Utah Tech will have gone 21 days in between matches before returning to action Thursday night. This was the longest layoff in the program's D-1 history. 

THE VIKINGS (PRE)VIEW
Portland State enters Big Sky Conference play coming off of a 1-0 win over San Diego on Sept 20. The Vikings held a 2-7-0 non-conference record, with their other win coming over D-2 Western Oregon on Sept 6. 

Aliyaha Saldana leads the Viks offensively with three goals on the season. Grace Sarabia has two assists, which is tied for fifth best in the Big Sky. Finley Crabtree anchors the PSU backline, recording 41 saves through 9 matches so far. Crabtree had a nine-save game in their last match against San Diego, en route to a shutout victory. 

Portland State was picked to finish sixth in the preseason coaches poll, and did not land any players on the preseason all-conference team. 

SERIES HISTORY
Utah Tech holds an unbeaten record against Portland State heading into Thursday night's match at 2-0-1. The two clubs last met in Hillsboro in 2025 which saw the Trailblazers win 2-1 with a two-goal second half. Jocelyn Wright and Bre Koscielski were the goal-scorers in the comeback win. 

BROST ON A HEATER
Lataya's two goal performance in UT's recent match pushed her season total to five. Her 2026 total is a career high and is tied for the lead in the Big Sky. Brost also leads the Big Sky in points, points per game, and goals per game. Lataya has four goals in her last five matches, and has recorded a point in five consecutive matches. 

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.