There’s a lot to like about Utah Valley women’s soccer these days, and all the components were on full display during Wednesday’s 7-1 route over Cal State Bakersfield that was probably even more lopsided than the final score would indicate.

“We’ve talked about this first opportunity to play in the Big West … and this was a big, big deal to change conferences,” said Utah Valley coach Chris Lemay. “We’re excited about being in the Big West. We had talked all week about making a big statement, and I think we did that.”

Statement received loud and clear.

After forging a 2-1 lead following a first half that witnessed more than several prime goal-scoring opportunities narrowly go astray, the Wolverines punched the gas pedal during the match’s final 45 minutes.

Sadie Beardall opened up the second half route with a goal scored with just over a minute played during the final period, pushing the lead to 3-1, which was her second on the evening. Josie Clawson added another just five minutes later before both Tess Livingston and Brynlee Austin found the back of the net to increase the lead to 6-1 with just seven minutes remaining in the match. Then it was Austin topping things off nicely with her second goal scored in the game’s 88th minute for the resounding 7-1 final.

“We definitely put our foot on the gas in the second half,” Lemay said. “We talked about at halftime just to up our tempo a little bit. It’s not that we played poorly in the first half, but I think that we like we it up one gear, and that’s what it was going to require to create more chances and find more openings. So credit to (the players.) I thought that they reacted well to what we discussed and came out in second half and were pretty potent.”

In the middle of just about all of it, like she typically is, was senior forward Nixan Jackson, who assisted on three of the Wolverine’s seven goals while adding a goal of her own during the 29th minute of play.

“Nixan did a really good job controlling the game,” Lemay said. “She gets the goal, but I thought her vision and finding her teammates was really good tonight. There is no doubt in my mind that Nixan is one of the most talented forwards in the country. She’s a talented athlete and a very good soccer player. I watch a lot of college soccer, and I’ve been doing this for a long time, and Nixan’s one of the most talented forwards in the country.”

As mentioned, the final score actually didn’t indicate just how lopsided the play was on Wednesday. One of the more glaring stats was the shots-on-goal, where the Wolverines outshot the visiting Roadrunners 31-3 while putting 16 of those 31 shots on frame. More than several just glanced off posts while others either just missed those posts by a matter of inches or forced diving saves by UC Bakersfield goalkeeper Addyson Evens.

With the win Utah Valley improves its mark to 5-4-1 overall and, of course, 1-0 in Big West Conference play. It’s been a season where Lemay had to replace several notable seniors, although he likes what he’s seen from his players so far.

“I love the resiliency of this team,” he said. ” … We (were) going to have to be players that step up … We just want to restock (rather than rebuild), and I think we’ve done that with some with some additions of our players. I think current players are taking bigger leadership roles, and we’re scoring by committee … We’re doing it as a team, and it’s been a really fun group to work with.”

And it’s a lot of it’s being done under the gleaming lights provided by the UCCU Stadium, which is a world-class facility by just about everyone’s estimation. So when marrying that type of facility with the returns brought forth during Wednesday’s route over the Roadrunners, it’s hard not to be bullish on the Wolverine’s future as a soccer program.

“Any player that wants to play at the highest level in a professional-grade facility with a great atmosphere,” Lemay answered when asked what all of it has done for his recruiting. “… and the players have earned this. It’s not just this group. It’s the players of the past that have put this program where it’s at. People wanted to believe in it and invest in it, and yeah, we’re certainly grateful.”