As the summer wraps up and school is in session, women’s soccer is ready to kick-off its season.
The defending Great West Conference champions started off the season a little rocky with an unexpected 2-1 upset against UTEP.
Utah Valley then set course to Honolulu, Hawaii last week for the OHANA Hotels & Suites No Ka Oi Invitational hosted by the University of Hawaii. The Wolverines scored a 3-2 win against Sacred Heart, securing their first victory of the season.
“We really connected well against Sacred Heart and we were really pumped,” said Lexi Dunn, junior defender. “It was our first big game after we lost in just a few seconds against UTEP so we were really excited to go back out and play.”
Dunn and teammates Lexi Robinson and Haley Curtis worked together to score the game-winning point against Sacred Heart. With a free kick from Dunn’s left foot, Robinson got the header to put them back in the game while Curtis finished it off.
“That was like the big moment. That was the game winner and that’s when we felt we were good enough to do this,” Robinson said.
A play like that helped nominate both Dunn and Robinson for the Great West Conference Players of the Week, which were recently received.
Although the Wolverines wrapped up their first win of the season against Sacred Heart, they fell short with a 2-1 loss to the University of Hawaii.
“[With Sacred Heart] we were really focused as we went to play the University of
Hawaii,” Robinson said. “We got a little off track but now that we’re back here, we’re back at the drawing board and revisiting some of the things we didn’t quite get when we were in Hawaii.”
The team has nothing but high hopes and expectations as they look forward to their possible upcoming success.
“Our team expectations are very high,” said Brent Anderson, head coach. “We’ve won the conference three times and the expectation is to repeat as champions and win the GWC tournament again.”
As the team grows with experience, the last-second mistakes and losses will change. The changes may help the Wolverines come out on top.
Utah Valley hit the field Sunday, Sept. 2 to play in-state rivals Utah State.
“We are really excited to play Utah State,” Robinson said Thursday night. “It’s our in-state rival, so it’s a big game for us. They’ve been doing really well and they’re undefeated right now, so we’re pumped to play them and have been working really hard this week to prepare for it.”
