Only once in the 2021 fall season had the UVU women’s soccer team scored more than three goals in a match (a 4-0 win at Dixie State on Oct. 16). Only three other times had the Wolverines tallied three goals.

Maybe they were just saving them for the postseason.

UVU enjoyed an offensive explosion in the quarterfinals of the WAC tournament at Abilene Christian Wednesday evening, notching six goals (three in each half) on its way to a 6-1 rout of Sam Houston.

“I thought it was the reaction that we expected coming off the result we had on Saturday,” Utah Valley head coach Chris Lemay said in the press release. “We definitely wanted to make a statement. We understand that this is only one win and now we need to focus all our energy on Friday. I thought we looked hungry to get to goal tonight and we put the ball in dangerous areas a number of times and because of that we were obviously able to put up six.”

The Wolverines needed only nine minutes to start the barrage when sophomore defender Nicole Olanda ripped a long shot that deflected off a Bearcat defender and bounced into the net.

UVU would double the lead in the 30th minute on another ball that was slightly tipped, this one coming from junior forward Sadie Brockbank.

Wolverine freshman midfielder Breanna Eves — a former Springville star who was recently named WAC Freshman of the Year — added a goal of her own right before halftime as she headed in a cross from sophomore midfielder Ashley Hughes (a Salem Hills alum).

Sam Houston had a brief moment of hope for a huge comeback when Summer Knox scored in the 54th minute, but UVU would answer with goals from Brockbank (64th minute), senior forward Amber Tripp (71st minute) and sophomore forward Manthy Brady (77th minute).

The Wolverines finished the game with 33 shots compared to just five for the Bearcats as UVU cruised into the semifinals.

Now the Wolverines, the No. 2 seed in the West, will face Stephen F. Austin, which was the No. 1 seed from the Southwest, for a spot in the tournament finals.

The semifinal match is scheduled to take place Friday at 6 p.m. MT in Abilene, Texas, and can be seen on ESPN+.

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