With the win, Utah Valley maintains its lead atop The Big West and secured its best start to the league season through four games since 2019, when the Wolverines started 5-0. The three-goal margin of victory was also the team’s largest in league play since 2023 when UVU thumped UTRGV 4-0 at Clyde Field.

“Extremely proud of our guys. We used all of our depth to get that result,” said head coach Michael Chesler. “We didn’t start great. The subs came on — we actually call them game-changers — and they changed the game. They got us the result, then the starters came back on and finished it for us, so I couldn’t be more proud.”

Utah Valley used all 20 of its available outfield players in the win, with the first goal coming via the substitutes. The Wolverines let it rip on the offensive end, recording their most shots on goal of the season and their most total shots since the season opener against Pacific.

Jackson Medina made two saves in the opening 18 minutes, saving a well-placed volley from Sean Battistessa in the eighth minute then parrying away a knuckling free kick from Hiroshi Yang in the 18th minute. Medina ended the night with four saves en route to his second clean sheet of the season.

Utah Valley had two quick chances in the 15th minute as Watts’ initial effort was blocked, then Luca Wingaa Laursen’s shot on the rebound was saved.

After a sluggish end to the first half from both sides, the Wolverines took over in the second, holding the Hornets to three shots and just one on frame.

Utah Valley opened the scoring in the 59th minute on a corner taken by Bismark Ayamba. Pogue lost his man and rose up uncontested to head home the goal and earn Ayamba his first point at the D-I level.

Watts doubled the lead in the 80th minute, pouncing on a loose touch by a Hornet defender and leaving his markers in the dust, burying a shot into the upper 90 from about 20 yards out.

Montealegre capped things off with a well-timed run off a feed from Watts in the 87th minute, curling a shot past the keeper from the right side of the 18.

Utah Valley will now head back to Southern California on Wednesday for its first of three Pac-12 crossover games, facing off with their third and final reigning Big West regular season co-champions in Cal Poly. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. MDT, and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.

Utah Valley women’s soccer takes a 2-1 road win over Cal Poly

Nixan Jackson scored a goal and added an assist, while Kate Booth netted the game-winner to lead Utah Valley to a 2-1 road victory over Cal Poly on Saturday night at Spanos Stadium, keeping the Wolverines unbeaten in Big West play.

Utah Valley improves to 7-4-3 overall and 3-0-2 in Big West action, while Cal Poly falls to 5-5-3 overall and 2-2-1 in conference play.

“We knew this was going to be a difficult road match for a lot of reasons,” said Utah Valley head coach Chris Lemay. “The styles of play were completely opposite, and with the surface, the size of the field and the environment, it’s a difficult place to get a result. I couldn’t be more proud of the way our players competed for the entire 90 minutes and how we outclassed them with our ability to play the game and keep the ball. I’m very, very happy with the result tonight.”

Jackson put the Wolverines on the scoreboard in the 36th minute with an impressive individual effort. The senior forward collected the ball on the right side of the field, raced past a Cal Poly defender to create space and unleashed a left-footed strike from 25 yards out that sailed into the upper-left corner of the net, giving Utah Valley a 1-0 advantage.

Just three minutes later, the Wolverines doubled their lead following a strong defensive play by Ashley Garcia. Garcia dispossessed a Cal Poly player, dribbled past another defender and slipped a pass ahead to Jackson down the right flank. Jackson took a touch before delivering a cross into the box, where Booth redirected the ball into the net with her right foot in the 39th minute to give UVU a 2-0 lead. The goal proved to be the game-winner.

Cal Poly responded shortly after halftime as Kammy MacLennan worked her way down the right side of the field and found the back of the net in the 47th minute, cutting Utah Valley’s advantage to 2-1.

The Wolverines held off the Mustangs over the remainder of the second half to secure their third Big West victory of the season and remain unbeaten through their first five conference matches.

Utah Valley outshot Cal Poly 18-11 on the night, including a 7-6 advantage in shots on goal. The Wolverines also held a 5-4 edge in corner kicks.

Sadie Beardall led UVU with four shots, including one on goal, while Jackson and Josie Clawson recorded three shots apiece.

Freshman goalkeeper Madeleine Boucher made five saves to help preserve the road victory.

Utah Valley returns to the road on Wednesday, Oct. 14, for a matchup against California Baptist in Riverside, California. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. MT.

The Wolverines will then return to UCCU Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 17, to host UC Riverside at 5 p.m. MT in the opening game of a soccer doubleheader. The Utah Valley men’s team will follow with a 7:30 p.m. MT matchup against CSUN.