The Wolverines enter the new campaign as the preseason favorite in the Western Athletic Conference after winning three straight regular season titles.

Graduate forward Faith Webber headlines a veteran group, beginning her final season ranked No. 15 nationally in Top Drawer Soccer’s 2025 Women’s National Top-100 list and earning a spot on the Preseason Best XI Second Team. The reigning WAC Offensive Player of the Year and 2025 WAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year led the nation in goals per game (0.95) last season while setting four single-season program records. She enters the year as UVU’s all-time leader in points (109), goals (48), and goals per game (0.81).

Senior forward Ruby Hladek joins Webber on the national radar as both were named to the 2025 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women’s Players to Watch list, making UVU one of just 12 programs nationally with multiple honorees on the Forwards to Watch List. They anchor a core that also features senior defender Taylor Nelson, the WAC Preseason Co-Defensive Player of the Year, junior midfielder Ashley Garcia, and sophomore midfielder Kate Shirts — all of whom earned Preseason All-WAC recognition.

Monday’s match will be the first in the new $30 million UCCU Stadium, which officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony this past Friday. The facility now serves as the home of both the men’s and women’s soccer programs.

Utah, a member of the Big 12 Conference, opened the 2025 season with a 2-1 road victory at Gonzaga, marking its first season-opening win away from home since 2017. Freshman Julia Oka scored her first collegiate goal to tie the match in the 68th minute, and senior forward Kelly Bullock netted the game-winner in the 80th on a header from a Grace Watkins cross. The Utes, who finished 6-9-5 overall and 2-6-3 in conference play last season, were picked ninth in the 2025 Big 12 preseason poll and are aiming for their first 2-0 start since 2017. Key returners include Bullock, a 2024 All-Big 12 Second Team pick, defender Tavia Leachman, and graduate midfielder Devi Dudley. Head coach Hideki Nakada is in his fifth season leading the program.

Monday marks the 10th all-time meeting between Utah Valley and Utah. The Wolverines are 1-7-1 against the Utes, with their lone victory coming in the most recent matchup — a 2-0 win in Salt Lake City on Sept. 8, 2024, behind goals from Faith Webber and Manthy Brady. The last time the two sides met in Orem came on Sept. 16, 2016, a 0-0 draw at Clyde Field. UVU holds an 0-1-1 record at home in the series.