The Wolverines showed out in their first big meet of the 2026 season, taking eighth at the John McNichols Invitational, hosted by Indiana State at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course, the site of this season’s Nationals. Utah Valley finished ahead of eight teams who were ranked in the preseason USTFCCCA poll.

Leading the way was Sila Kiplagat, placing 19th after running the 8k race in 24:06.5. Alex Hartshorn (50th), Trey Despain (54th), Mark Boyle (63rd), and Wyatt Mortenson (79th) rounded out the scoring, while Porter Whitworth came across the line just behind Mortenson in 80th. Utah Valley was one of only four teams at the meet who had at least six runners among the top 80 finishers, along with BYU, Washington, and Michigan State.

In the Mountain Region poll, Utah Valley also moved up three spots to No. 5, leapfrogging Utah State and Air Force. On the women’s side, the Wolverines also moved up three spots to No. 6, moving past Utah State, Air Force, and Colorado State.

The ranking for men’s cross country is also an historic milestone for Utah Valley athletics, as this week marks the first time in the D-I era that multiple teams are ranked in their respective national polls. Wolverine men’s soccer is ranked as high as No. 21 in their national polls.

Utah Valley will be off this week before returning to action on Oct. 3 in Cedar City for the Color Country Invitational, hosted by Southern Utah at Cedar Ridge Golf Course.

Men’s soccer battles to draw with Utah Tech

ST. GEORGE, Utah — Brayden Tester scored his first goal as a Wolverine in the 36th minute, but a late equalizer from Seth Powder in the 75th minute meant the Old Hammer Rivalry ended in a draw for the second straight year, 1-1 at Utah Tech on Monday night in Greater Zion Stadium.

With the draw, the Wolverines unbeaten through six games for the third straight season. Utah Valley started 5-0-2 in 2024 and 6-0-1 in 2025.

In a physical game that saw a combined 39 fouls, the Wolverines controlled the pace of play for the majority of the evening, but a miscommunication in the box allowed the Trailblazers to steal the draw late.

It took both teams a while to settle into the game, with the first shot by either team not coming until the 17th minute when Noah Pogue’s shot from the right side of the box went across the face of goal and just wide left.

The Trailblazers had a pair of shots in the 22nd and 23rd minute, then two more in the span of five seconds in the 31st minute, but none were on frame.

Utah Valley opened the scoring in the 36th minute after winning a free kick deep in the attacking third. Dan McKay lofted the cross from the near side to the back post, where Tester rose highest and headed it home into the left side netting.

The Wolverine defense held the Trailblazers without many bona fide scoring opportunities in the second half, but a defensive miscue gave Utah Tech the only chance it needed to equalize.

Seconds after a VAR review denied the Wolverines a penalty late in the 74th minute, on the other end, Powder pounced on a loose ball in the opposite 18 and buried it.

Neither team was settling for the draw, as each squad had quality scoring chances in the final 15 minutes. Max Palmer, Tester, and Jose Luis Martin Montealegre each had shots on frame in the final eight minutes, but none were able to beat the keeper.

Utah Valley will return home for the first time in almost four weeks on Sept. 30 for The Big West opener against UC Irvine. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. MT, and tickets can be purchased at GoUVU.com/GetTix.

Women’s soccer opens Big West era vs. CSU Bakersfield

Utah Valley opens a new chapter in program history Wednesday night as the Wolverines begin their first-ever season of Big West play against CSU Bakersfield at UCCU Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. MT with the match broadcast live on ESPN+.

Utah Valley enters conference play with a 4-4-1 overall record after closing out its non-conference schedule with a 3-0 shutout victory over in-state rival Weber State on Saturday night. Josie Clawson scored twice, Quinn Rustand added her first career goal and Nixan Jackson recorded three assists in the win. Freshman goalkeeper Madeleine Boucher made four saves to secure her third shutout of the season.

Wednesday’s match marks Utah Valley’s first conference game outside the Western Athletic Conference since 2012. The Wolverines competed in the WAC for 13 seasons from 2013-25 before joining The Big West for the 2026 season.

Utah Valley moved up to No. 3 in the West Region in the latest IWSOC Coaches Poll in partnership with United Soccer Coaches. The Wolverines are averaging 1.44 goals per match while outshooting opponents 118-94 through nine matches. UVU has also generated 57 corner kicks, averaging 6.33 per game.

Jackson leads Utah Valley with seven points on one goal and five assists. Her five assists rank second in The Big West, while Clawson leads the Wolverines with three goals and ranks second on the team with six points. Kate Booth has scored twice, while Sadie Beardall, Ashley Garcia, Kate Shirts, Addie Olson, Malia Jessop and Rustand have each found the back of the net once.

Boucher has been one of The Big West’s top goalkeepers through the opening month of the season. She owns a 4-2-1 record with a 0.80 goals-against average and an .829 save percentage in eight appearances. Boucher has made 29 saves and recorded three shutouts.

CSU Bakersfield enters Wednesday’s match with a 1-7-1 overall record after earning a 2-2 draw at Fresno State on Sunday. The Roadrunners twice battled back from one-goal deficits, including a late equalizer in the 78th minute. CSUB’s lone victory this season came in a 2-1 home win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Sept. 3.

The Roadrunners have scored four goals while allowing 16 through nine matches and are averaging 9.6 shots per match. Daniela Osejo leads CSUB with three points on one goal and one assist, while Jaiden Gore and CJ Walters have also scored this season. Gore leads the Roadrunners with 21 shots and eight attempts on goal.

Sophomore goalkeeper Addyson Evens has started eight matches for CSU Bakersfield and owns a 1.47 goals-against average with an .836 save percentage. Evens has made 56 saves and ranks among the national leaders with 7.00 saves per match.

Utah Valley leads CSU Bakersfield 9-3-0 in the all-time series and has won eight of the last 10 meetings. The Wolverines are 4-2-0 against the Roadrunners in Orem. The programs last met on Oct. 6, 2019, when CSU Bakersfield earned a 3-2 victory in Bakersfield. UVU’s most recent win in the series came in a 3-0 shutout at home on Oct. 12, 2018.

Utah Valley will travel to La Jolla, Calif., to take on UC San Diego on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 8 p.m. MT.

Softball promotes Chavez to associate head coach

Utah Valley softball head coach Cody Thomson has announced the promotion of Marissa Chavez to associate head coach. Chavez is entering her second season on staff after joining the team prior to the 2026 season.

“I’m excited to see Coach Chavez continue to climb the coaching ranks,” said Thomson. “She’s one of the best hitting coaches I’ve worked with, and I’m thrilled about this opportunity for her.”

Chavez began her coaching career as a graduate assistant at D-III Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham in 2023. Before that, she had a highly-successful collegiate playing career just up the road at BYU. Chavez was a three-time All-WCC selection — twice as first team and once as second team — and appeared in 162 games over her five-year playing career. As a Cougar, Chavez posted a career .306 batting average with 12 home runs, 24 doubles, and 65 RBIs.

A native of Covina, California, Chavez graduated from BYU in 2022 with a Bachelors degree in Public Health, and received Masters degrees in Public Administration and Public Health from Fairleigh Dickinson in 2025.