The Utah Valley University women's soccer team plays its final two home matches of the season this week as the team hosts Grand Canyon on Friday and CSU Bakersfield on Sunday at Clyde Field. Friday's match kicks off at 5 p.m. MT, while Sunday's match begins at 11 a.m.
Utah Valley (9-4-1, 4-0-1) remains atop the WAC standings after picking up a pair of wins last week, defeating New Mexico State, 4-0, before downing UT Rio Grande Valley, 2-0. UVU has now won four straight and has an unbeaten streak of six-straight matches. The Wolverines are unbeaten at home this season with a 7-0-1 record.
"The team is looking forward to the competition this weekend," Utah Valley head coach Brent Anderson said. "We are aware of the high quality of our WAC opponents and know that we will need to be focused and sharp in order to get positive results."
Junior forward Sheridan Fox continues to lead the Wolverines in scoring with six goals, which ranks second in the WAC. Senior midfielder Kasandra Anderson leads the team and the conference with seven assists. Fox and Anderson lead the team with 15 points each.
Utah Valley leads the WAC in numerous statistical categories, including goals (34), assists (34) and points (102). The team ranks in the top 20 nationally in all three categories.
The Wolverines will celebrate senior night on Friday. Seniors Jessica Duffin, Kasandra Anderson, Courtney Wilson, Kali Stubbs and Jamie Brown will be honored prior to Friday night's match.
Grand Canyon enters Friday's match with a 6-6-2 overall record. The team is 1-3-1 on the road. The team is 3-1-1 in WAC play and sits in a tie with CSU Bakersfield for third place in the league's standings. The 'Lopes swept a pair of home matches last week in Phoenix, defeating Chicago State, 7-1, and Missouri-Kansas City, 2-1. Sophomore forward Milla Benedetti leads GCU with six goals. She also has two assists and leads the 'Lopes with 14 points.
CSU Bakersfield heads into the week with a 5-7-2 overall record and a 3-1-1 mark in league play. The 'Runners have won three of their last four matches. The team split a pair of matches last week at home, falling 3-2 in double overtime to UMKC before defeating Chicago State, 9-1. Freshman forward Aminah Settles leads CSUB with eight goals, 17 points and three game-winning goals.
Eleven different Utah Valley players have registered at least one goal this season. Fox leads the team with five scores. Jamie Brown has put five shots in the back of the net. Kasandra Anderson and Taylor Kirk each have four goals. Libby Weber, Sydney Fitzpatrick and Kali Stubbs have each tallied three. Tori Smith and Sara Callister have each recorded two goals, while Breanna McCarter and Rylee Gritton each have one.
As of Oct. 14, Utah Valley leads the WAC in points (102), goals (34), goals per game (2.43), assists (34) and assists per game (2.43). Individually, Anderson leads the WAC in assists with seven. She also fronts the league with 0.50. Fox ranks tied for second in the WAC with six goals. Jessica Duffin ranks second in the WAC with six shutouts.
Nationally, Utah Valley ranks ninth in assists (34), ninth in assists per game (2.43), 13th in total points (102), 13th in points per game (7.29) and 17th in goals scored (34). Individually, Anderson ranks 21st in the nation with seven assists. She also ranks 26th nationally in assists per game (0.50).
The Utah Valley women's soccer team ranks 23rd in the nation in accumulative attendance for the season. The Wolverines have welcomed 8,051 fans through the Clyde Field gates this season, putting them ahead of 308 teams nationally. UVU ranks 23rd just behind Stanford, West Virginia, Georgia and North Carolina.
Jason Erickson works in the communications office at the Utah Valley University athletic department. For more information on Wolverine athletics, visit WolverineGreen.com.