Know thy enemy
Photo by Jesse Sanchez
The week in Utah Valley University spreads a full slate from Monday to Saturday. The men’s soccer and volleyball teams begin conference play, while the women’s soccer team continues a final week of out-of-conference play.
Get to know your foe with this preview of the week.
-The Wolverine women’s soccer team will get a sneak peek into Western Athletic Conference play this week. Due to a scheduling situation, UVU will play two WAC matches that will not count toward their conference record. They begin with a Monday matinee against Grand Canyon at Clyde Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. MT.
The Lopes have had a roller coaster season. In each of their wins, they have shut out their opponent and dominated the scoreboard, averaging 3.3 goals per game.
However, in losses they are averaging just 0.6 goals and giving up 2.3 goals.
UVU will then travel to Washington for a WAC title game rematch with Seattle U.
The Redhawks have played close games this year as only one of their first eight matches was decided by more than one goal.
SU boasts a staunch defense, allowing 0.8 goals per game on just 2.8 shots on goal.
-The women’s volleyball team returns to action this week with their conference home openers. Thursday, the Wolverines take on the Chicago State Cougars at 7 p.m. Kiana Chaney leads the Cougars in digs with 125 on the year.
Last season, the Wolverines swept Chicago State in both meetings.
Saturday, UVU will clash with the University of Missouri-Kansas City Kangaroos at 1 p.m. The two teams split the season series last season, expect another competitive match this year. The Kangaroos’ .295 hitting percentage leads the WAC. They are led by Madison Mosier and Emma Hagedorn, who were both named Preseason All-WAC. Both matches will be played in the UCCU Center.
-The men’s soccer team opens conference play Friday, Sept. 30 at 8 p.m. MT in Seattle against the Seattle U Redhawks. The Wolverines enter the match 0-2-2 against the Redhawks, who have been in a steady decline since the start of the of 2016 season.
After it began the season in Top Drawer Soccer’s top 10, Seattle fell of the rankings with losses to Akron, Gonzaga and Dartmouth.
The Wolverines and Redhawks each average 1.71 goals per game, but UVU holds a defensive edge by allowing 0.71 goals per game to SU’s 1.14 allowance. The Redhawks are a perfect 2-0-0 at home this season, where they have outscored opponents by a total of 6-1.
Reporting by Kaleb Searle, Mark Wait, Brad Curnow
I’m a Pacific Northwest guy who loves his Pacific Northwest sports. An amateur movie buff who prefers the disc to digital. Chasing the sports writing dream while I geek out on Assassin’s Creed.