Utah Valley women’s soccer takes long winning streak into NCAA Tournament

Members of the Utah Valley University women’s soccer team huddle up during practice at Johnson Stadium Tuesday, April 27, 2021, in Greenville, N.C. The Wolverines play Memphis in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Wednesday. | UVU Athletics

The Wolverines (12-4-4) travel to Johnson Stadium on the campus of East Carolina University to face Memphis in the first round Wednesday (2 p.m., MDT, ESPN3). 

The Utah Valley University women’s soccer team is set to make its third NCAA Tournament appearance.

The Wolverines (12-4-4) travel to Johnson Stadium on the campus of East Carolina University to face Memphis in a first-round match on Wednesday (2 p.m. MDT, ESPN3).

Under coach Chris Lemay, UVU previously qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2015 and 2017.

UVU hasn’t lost since falling 4-1 to No. 12 seed BYU on March 17.

The Wolverines earned the Western Athletic Conference’s automatic bid by beating Seattle in the WAC Tournament title match.

“We are absolutely thrilled,” Lemay said after that win. “At halftime we readjusted some things and talked about tempo and moving off the ball and trying to play our brand of soccer that got us here. In the final half, we executed really well. I couldn’t be more happy for this group of young women because I love them and I’m so proud of them.”

Memphis (8-3-0) lost 1-0 to Cincinnati in the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference Tournament on April 15.

This match between UVU and Memphis will mark the first meeting between the two programs.

The Wolverines are led by Heather Stainbrook, Sadie Brockbank and Jenna Shepherd, who have scored five goals apiece this season.

Brockbank ranks No. 11 nationally in shots on goal per game at 2.32. Isabel Jones-Dawe has 54 saves and has posted a .771 save percentage.

In their previous two tournament appearances, the Wolverines lost to BYU, 1-0, in 2015 and dropped a 9-1 decision to Stanford in 2017.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/3u07A0v