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The Utah Valley men's soccer team defeated UC Irvine 2-0 in a Big West match at UCCU Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026.

Courtesy UVU Athletics

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Utah Valley's Sadie Beardall (left) dribbles the ball against UC Irvine in a Big West women's soccer match on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026.

Courtesy UVU Athletics

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Oliver Watts scored his first collegiate goal and Adem Arous netted his second of the season to lead a second-half surge as No. 24 Utah Valley moved past reigning Big West champions UC Irvine 2-0 in the conference opener on Wednesday at UCCU Stadium.

With the win, the Wolverines secured the distinction of being the only team in the country to end September unbeaten in each of the last two seasons. Utah Valley also matched the program record for longest unbeaten streak to start a season at seven games, and remain one of just seven teams in the country yet to taste defeat this campaign.

The Wolverines held the lion’s share of the possession in the first half, out-shooting the Anteaters 8-1 and 2-0 on target, but were kept off the scoreboard until early in the second half.

In the 55th minute, Watts took a feed from fellow Danishman Luca Wingaa Laursen and dribbled through space before unleashing a shot from about 20 yards out that curled past the keeper.

Kolby Sessions was forced into his lone save of the night in the 67th minute, snuffing out a UCI counter by parrying a close-range shot off the outside of the post. With the clean sheet, Sessions moves into a tie for second all-time in program history with Joseph Wheelwright at eight career shutouts.

Arous doubled the advantage moments later in the 70th minute, capping off a run from Nil Grau. Grau beat his man to the end line before sending a cross into the 18 that was deflected out to a waiting Arous, who blasted a left-footed shot past the keeper at his near post.

The Wolverines had two shots on goal in the 80th minute, but both were saved.

Utah Valley will now head to Southern California for the next two games, first facing off against preseason Big West favorite UC Santa Barbara on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. MDT, and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.

Women’s soccer triumphs on the road at UC Irvine

IRVINE, Calif. — Sadie Beardall recorded her second brace in the last three matches to lead Utah Valley to a 3-1 road victory over UC Irvine on Wednesday night at Anteater Stadium.

Utah Valley improves to 6-4-2 overall and remains unbeaten in Big West play at 2-0-1. UC Irvine falls to 3-4-3 overall and 1-1-1 in conference action.

“Overall, I thought we played well,” Utah Valley head coach Chris Lemay said. “I thought we possessed in the right moments. I thought we played on our front foot and created a number of chances. We’re happy to score three. Obviously, wins on the road in this conference are going to be crucial, and being able to come away from the trip with four points, obviously, we came for six, but we’ll take four.”

The Wolverines struck first in the 32nd minute. Tylie Miller sent a throw-in forward to Addie Olson, who played the ball through midfield to Nixan Jackson on the right side. Jackson settled it and fired in a shot to give Utah Valley a 1-0 lead. Jackson’s goal was her fourth of the season.

UC Irvine found the equalizer in the 50th minute. After a blocked shot in the box, Fiona Shin collected the rebound and fired a shot that glanced off the glove of Madeleine Boucher and into the net to even the match at 1-1.

Utah Valley quickly regained the lead five minutes later. Josie Clawson played the ball out wide to Jackson, who raced toward the edge of the box before sending a cross into the area. The ball struck the hand of a UC Irvine defender, resulting in a penalty kick for the Wolverines. Beardall stepped to the spot and converted the penalty to give UVU a 2-1 advantage in the 55th minute.

Beardall added her second goal of the night in the 75th minute. Isabella Stewart created space before finding Beardall in the middle of the box. Beardall turned past the defense and buried a left-footed shot to extend Utah Valley’s lead to 3-1. The brace pushed Beardall’s season total to six goals.

Beardall has now scored five goals through Utah Valley’s first three Big West matches, while Jackson has three goals and two assists over the same stretch.

Utah Valley finished the match with a 17-9 advantage in shots, including an 11-3 edge in shots on goal. The Wolverines placed nine shots in the first half and eight in the second.

Beardall and Jackson led Utah Valley with four shots apiece, with all four of Beardall’s attempts coming on frame. Josie Clawson added two shots on goal, while Elle Young, Quinn Rustand, Isabella Stewart and Kate Booth each put a shot on frame.

Boucher played all 90 minutes in goal for Utah Valley and recorded one save. The Wolverines also registered one team save.

Utah Valley now returns home to UCCU Stadium to host Cal State Fullerton on Saturday night at 6 p.m. MT.