Wednesday, August 12
Salt Lake City, Utah
7 p.m.
University of Utah
vs
Weber State
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Photo by: Davis Kuhn/Utah Athletics
Utah’s 2026 Season Begins at Home Against Weber State
8/9/2026 8:46 PM | Soccer
With 18 new faces, Utah set to kickoff new year
SALT LAKE CITY – After many months of waiting, the University of Utah women's soccer team is taxiing into takeoff position for the start of its 2026 season, which will begin on Wednesday, when the Utes host the Weber State Wildcats at 7 p.m. at Ute Field in Salt Lake City.
2026 Outlook
Utah added 18 new faces to the roster in the offseason, the most newcomers on record for a single team since the program's inception, but the Utes can also boast a talented cast of returners. Topping Utah's list of returning players are forward Abby Affleck and midfielder Shannon Davidson, both of whom accounted for game-winning goals in 2026. Davidson finished her freshman season as one of Utah's leaders in both goals and total points and was a member of the starting lineup for conference victories over Houston and Arizona.
Callie Blaylock and Katie Callaway are also among the Utes back in the fold in 2026. Blaylock has appeared in 29 matches over her first two years at the U, including making four starts a season ago. Callaway will be attempting to return to the form that made her one of the team's top scorers in 2024, when she finished the season by logging points in four of the team's final seven fixtures.
The list of new additions includes six freshmen and 12 transfers, giving the squad a talented blend of high-level experience and youth. Among the list of transfers are four players, Reese Clem, Kori Pickelle, Tatym Dever and Bre'Elle Dean, who've been part of teams that have reached the NCAA Tournament. Clem and Dean were also all-conference selections at their previous stops. Junior defender Brooke Gardner, a native of Lehi, Utah, began her collegiate career at Salt Lake Community College, where she was named a First-Team All-American and helped the Bruins reach the NJCAA Tournament semifinals.
Gardner is one of eight Utah natives on the 2026 squad and another one of those Utahns, freshman Ava Escobedo, is one of the members of the program's freshman class. The Riverton native was the No. 54 ranked player in the Class of 2026 and earned an All-State Honorable Mention spot in 2025. Four of those rookies arrived in Salt Lake City after helping their prep or club squads capture state, league or conference championships. Included on that list is freshman Mia Avery, who was a member of a Michigan Hawks team that won an ECNL National Championship in 2023.
Freshman midfielder Ava Martinez took home her league's offensive MVP award in 2025, was an all-league and all-area first-team honoree and a member of three league championships winning teams. Another rookie is freshman Jastel David, a three-time all-league selection who helped lead her team to both CIF and state championships.
Scouting Weber State
The Wildcats are looking to recapture the momentum that led them to a 12-6-2 record a season ago and saw them narrowly miss out on the Big Sky Tournament Championship. That record marked an incredible turnaround for a program that managed only two victories in 2024 and, for his efforts, head coach Kyle Christensen was named the 2025 Big Sky Coach of the Year.
Nine of Christensen's pupils were named all-conference in 2025 and among those back in the fold for 2026 is goalkeeper Lauren Butorac. The conference freshman of the year a season ago, Butorac ranked second in the Big Sky in goals against average (.998) and recorded five shutouts.
The Wildcats also brought back two all-league first-team performers in Lily Blum and Isabella Sackett. Blum tallied four goals in 2025, including a brace in her team's September win over Eastern Washington. Sackett anchored the Wildcat defensive line all season, contributing to Weber State keeping six clean sheets.
For Openers
In 31 season openers in the program's history, the Utes have compiled an 18-9-4 record and that includes a 3-0-2 mark under Hideki Nakada. In each of the last two seasons, the Utes have opener the year with 2-1 triumphs over Gonzaga and they've logged multiple goals in four of their five lid-lifters with Nakada at the helm.
Scanning the Schedule
Utah's 2026 slate consists of 19 matches, including eight home fixtures at Ute Field. The team's Big 12 schedule begins with a Sept. 18 visit to Arizona State and includes 11 matchups against conference foes, concluding with a home clash with Kansas State on Nov. 4.
Prev-U
The Big 12 Conference released its Big 12 preseason poll on Aug. 3 and the Utes were picked to finish 11th in the league. TCU was picked to win the conference for the second consecutive year and received 13 of a possible 16 first-place votes.
| WEDNESDAY'S MATCHUP Date | Time: Wednesday, Aug. 12 | 7:00 p.m. Utah (0-0-0) vs. Weber State (0-0-0) Location: Salt Lake City | Ute Field Live Stats: Click Here Live Stream: Click Here Twitter Updates: @UtahWSoccer |
2026 Outlook
Utah added 18 new faces to the roster in the offseason, the most newcomers on record for a single team since the program's inception, but the Utes can also boast a talented cast of returners. Topping Utah's list of returning players are forward Abby Affleck and midfielder Shannon Davidson, both of whom accounted for game-winning goals in 2026. Davidson finished her freshman season as one of Utah's leaders in both goals and total points and was a member of the starting lineup for conference victories over Houston and Arizona.
Callie Blaylock and Katie Callaway are also among the Utes back in the fold in 2026. Blaylock has appeared in 29 matches over her first two years at the U, including making four starts a season ago. Callaway will be attempting to return to the form that made her one of the team's top scorers in 2024, when she finished the season by logging points in four of the team's final seven fixtures.
The list of new additions includes six freshmen and 12 transfers, giving the squad a talented blend of high-level experience and youth. Among the list of transfers are four players, Reese Clem, Kori Pickelle, Tatym Dever and Bre'Elle Dean, who've been part of teams that have reached the NCAA Tournament. Clem and Dean were also all-conference selections at their previous stops. Junior defender Brooke Gardner, a native of Lehi, Utah, began her collegiate career at Salt Lake Community College, where she was named a First-Team All-American and helped the Bruins reach the NJCAA Tournament semifinals.
Gardner is one of eight Utah natives on the 2026 squad and another one of those Utahns, freshman Ava Escobedo, is one of the members of the program's freshman class. The Riverton native was the No. 54 ranked player in the Class of 2026 and earned an All-State Honorable Mention spot in 2025. Four of those rookies arrived in Salt Lake City after helping their prep or club squads capture state, league or conference championships. Included on that list is freshman Mia Avery, who was a member of a Michigan Hawks team that won an ECNL National Championship in 2023.
Freshman midfielder Ava Martinez took home her league's offensive MVP award in 2025, was an all-league and all-area first-team honoree and a member of three league championships winning teams. Another rookie is freshman Jastel David, a three-time all-league selection who helped lead her team to both CIF and state championships.
Scouting Weber State
The Wildcats are looking to recapture the momentum that led them to a 12-6-2 record a season ago and saw them narrowly miss out on the Big Sky Tournament Championship. That record marked an incredible turnaround for a program that managed only two victories in 2024 and, for his efforts, head coach Kyle Christensen was named the 2025 Big Sky Coach of the Year.
Nine of Christensen's pupils were named all-conference in 2025 and among those back in the fold for 2026 is goalkeeper Lauren Butorac. The conference freshman of the year a season ago, Butorac ranked second in the Big Sky in goals against average (.998) and recorded five shutouts.
The Wildcats also brought back two all-league first-team performers in Lily Blum and Isabella Sackett. Blum tallied four goals in 2025, including a brace in her team's September win over Eastern Washington. Sackett anchored the Wildcat defensive line all season, contributing to Weber State keeping six clean sheets.
For Openers
In 31 season openers in the program's history, the Utes have compiled an 18-9-4 record and that includes a 3-0-2 mark under Hideki Nakada. In each of the last two seasons, the Utes have opener the year with 2-1 triumphs over Gonzaga and they've logged multiple goals in four of their five lid-lifters with Nakada at the helm.
Scanning the Schedule
Utah's 2026 slate consists of 19 matches, including eight home fixtures at Ute Field. The team's Big 12 schedule begins with a Sept. 18 visit to Arizona State and includes 11 matchups against conference foes, concluding with a home clash with Kansas State on Nov. 4.
Prev-U
The Big 12 Conference released its Big 12 preseason poll on Aug. 3 and the Utes were picked to finish 11th in the league. TCU was picked to win the conference for the second consecutive year and received 13 of a possible 16 first-place votes.
1. TCU – 222 (13)
2. Colorado – 187 (1)
3. Kansas – 182
West Virginia – 182 (1)
5. Texas Tech – 180 (1)
6. BYU – 164
7. Baylor – 153
8. UCF – 127
9. Arizona State – 111
10. Houston – 84
11. Utah – 77
12. Arizona – 70
13. Oklahoma State – 62
14. K-State – 48
15. Cincinnati – 42
16. Iowa State – 29
2. Colorado – 187 (1)
3. Kansas – 182
West Virginia – 182 (1)
5. Texas Tech – 180 (1)
6. BYU – 164
7. Baylor – 153
8. UCF – 127
9. Arizona State – 111
10. Houston – 84
11. Utah – 77
12. Arizona – 70
13. Oklahoma State – 62
14. K-State – 48
15. Cincinnati – 42
16. Iowa State – 29
Coaches Corner
Head coach Hideki Nakada's brain trust for 2026 includes two holdovers in Jackie Poortinga and Sam Gomez and one new addition in former University of Montevallo soccer player Emma Greenwood. Greenwood joins the Utes after spending the 2025 season at Cal Poly Pomona, where she helped the Broncos post an 18-3-3 record, win the conference regular season and West Region Championships and march all the way to the Final Four. The 2025 Broncos also produced three All-Americans and had nine players who earned academic all-district honors.
Prior to her time at Cal Poly Pomona, Greenwood spent four years with Legends FC - San Diego, where she served as ECNL Director, Head Coach, and Administrative Lead. In these roles, she led player recruitment efforts, oversaw program development, and implemented team training periodization. She managed residential and youth camps throughout the year as well, contributing to the club's emergence as one of Southern California's top youth soccer environments. In 2024, Greenwood was selected to the West Region ODP staff, supporting talent identification and player evaluation across the region.
Her coaching background also includes time with San Diego Surf Soccer Club (2020–2021), where she coached ECNL and ECRL teams, and with Palomar College (2021), where she contributed to all aspects of the collegiate program, including player development, team training, scouting, and game day operations.
NCAA Tournament History
The Utes enter 2025 aiming to reach the NCAA Tournament for the ninth time in school history and the first time since 2019. Utah put together its best postseason finish in 2016, when they forged a path all the way to the Sweet 16.
#ProUtes
The number of Utah soccer alums in the professional ranks continues to grow. Courtney Brown, with the Utah Royals, and Katie O'Kane, who plays for Racing Louisville, are both in the middle of their second NWSL seasons. The Royals recently added a second Ute to their roster with the signing of Ali Swensen and Kelly Bullock was just announced as the newest member of Valadares Gaia FC.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @UtahWSoccer | Instagram: @UtahWSoccer | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utahwsoccer).
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