The Big West women's soccer title race has reached the midway point with Cal State Fullerton and Utah Valley sharing the top spot in the standings. According to a Big West notebook, both teams hold 11 points and a 3-0-2 record in conference play.
CSUN sits one point behind the leaders with a 3-1-1 record following three consecutive road victories. The Matadors are scheduled to host Cal Poly on Wednesday at 7 p.m., a matchup that follows a period where the team scored four goals in each of its last three matches. Other upcoming conference matchups include Cal State Fullerton visiting Long Beach State and Utah Valley traveling to California Baptist.
UC San Diego is scheduled to visit UC Santa Barbara in a matchup between two teams currently tied with eight points. Additionally, UC Irvine will visit UC Santa Barbara, and Sacramento State is scheduled to travel to UC San Diego. UC Riverside and Cal State Bakersfield are also slated to battle for their first conference victory.
Utah Valley's unbeaten start to conference play has earned national recognition, with the Wolverines receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I poll. The team enters the week with a 7-4-3 overall record.
UC Santa Barbara has also received votes in the same poll after opening the season with three consecutive clean sheets. The Gauchos' season has been highlighted by a 6-0 scoring margin across those matches. In terms of individual performance, Long Beach State forward Cherrie Cox ranks seventh nationally with 0.92 goals per match.
The Big West welcomes California Baptist, Sacramento State, and Utah Valley as new programs in 2026. These newcomers bring championship experience to the conference, with California Baptist having won consecutive WAC Tournament titles in 2024 and 2025. The 2026 Big West Women's Soccer Championship is scheduled to begin on Nov. 4, with the top six teams qualifying for the postseason.
The regular-season slate for the conference is scheduled to conclude on Oct. 31. Ten conference matches are slated to air live on ESPN+.
Key points:
Cal State Fullerton and Utah Valley share the conference lead with 11 points each.
CSUN sits in third place with 11 points after three straight road wins.
UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara are tied for fourth with eight points each.
The 2026 Big West Women's Soccer Championship begins Nov. 4.
