OREM, Utah — Utah Valley women’s soccer has established itself as the paradigm of consistency, with fifth consecutive conference championships including the program’s first Big West title.
The new era of the Big West promoted the Wolverines’ men’s program, too.
Jose Luis Martin Montealegre had two goals and an assist as Utah Valley rallied to beat CSU Bakersfield 3-2 to clinch the Big West regular-season title and No. 1 seed in the conference tournament Saturday night in Bakersfield, California.
The program’s only other conference title came 10 years ago in the Western Athletic Conference, when the third-year program went 15-4-1 with wins over then-No. 20 Washington and Gonzaga before an 8-1-1 mark in WAC play.
A decade later, the Wolverines summited the mountain again a first-year head coach and a group of players that transformed a program — some with historic performances.
Montealegre is just the fourth player in program history with two goals and an assist in a match, and the first since Aaron Nixon in 2021. His eighth goal of the campaign that eventually became the match-winner in the 85th minute Saturday is tied for the fifth-most in program history in a single season.
“I couldn’t be prouder of this group. The players bought in from day one and gave everything for each other, and tonight they earned something this program has waited ten years for,” said first-year head coach Michael Chesler, the Utah County native and longtime UVU assistant who spent nine seasons as an assistant in three separate stints. “None of it happens without our staff, who poured countless hours into these guys behind the scenes, or without our administration, our support staff, our families and the fans who showed up all season. I’m grateful to be part of it.
“This championship belongs to everyone who gave a piece of themselves to UVU soccer.”
The win secured the No. 1 seed in the Big West men’s soccer championship tournament, which begins next Saturday, Nov. 7. The Wolverines will host the first semifinal of the four-team tournament at 2 p.m. MT at UCCU Stadium.
If the Wolverines advance over fourth-seeded CSU Bakersfield, they will host the championship match Friday, Nov. 13 against the winner of No. 2 UC Irvine and No. 3 UC Santa Barbara.
Every match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
They weren’t the only team to clinch an outright Big West title on Saturday. Earlier in the day, Utah Valley’s women’s cross country team won the school’s first-ever Big West title — the program’s third conference title in the past four years.
Caren Kipsirat finished second at Saturday’s conference championships, leading a group that placed all of its scoring runners in the top 13 for 44 points.
Utah Valley women rally to clinch Big West title in inaugural season in league
Josie Clawson had a brace, and Addie Olson added a goal and two assists as the Wolverines overturned a 2-0 halftime deficit in a 5-2 win over CSU Northridge at Matador Field.
Liz Peterson put the Matadors in front 2-0 with a 35th-minute goal in the first-half shutout.
But Nixan Jackson pulled one back in the 50th minute before Olson and Clawson worked their magic and Mia Owens capped the scoring with a 90th-minute rip from Olson to clinch the Wolverines’ fifth consecutive conference title and the No. 1 seed in the Big West women’s soccer tournament.
It’s the 20th goal contribution of the season for Jackson, the Maple Mountain High alumna who is tied for the team lead with Sadie Beardall. Jackson has eight goals and 12 assists, the inverse of Beardall’s 12 goals and eight assists.
The Wolverines lead the Big West with 2.45 goals per game, while Beardall, Jackson and Clawson (eight) rank second, third and fourth individually for goals scored.
Jackson’s 12 assists lead the conference by two dimes.
The top-seeded Wolverines have a bye along with No. 2 UC San Diego in the first round of the six-team tournament, which begins Wednesday, Nov. 4 at host sites. Utah Valley will host the winner of No. 4 California Baptist and No. 5 Cal Poly at 6 p.m. MT at UCCU Stadium.
If the Wolverines advance, they will also host the final Nov. 14.
