Utah Valley women’s soccer collected four of the Big West’s six major individual awards and placed five players on the All-Big West First Team following a historic inaugural season in the conference, the league announced Tuesday.
Senior forward Sadie Beardall was named Big West Offensive Player of the Year, while freshman midfielder Sam Curtis earned both Midfielder of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors. Senior defender Mia Owens was selected as the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year.
The Wolverines led the conference with five first-team selections, including senior midfielder Josie Clawson and senior forward Nixan Jackson. Freshman goalkeeper Madeleine Boucher and junior defender Kate Shirts earned second-team recognition, and senior defender Tylie Miller received honorable mention honors.
Curtis and Boucher were also named to the Big West All-Rookie Team. Head coach Chris Lemay stated that the recognized players are deserving and that the team is well prepared to continue their success throughout the postseason tournament.
Beardall, a senior from South Ogden, Utah, leads the Wolverines with 12 goals and 32 points this season. She ranks 13th nationally in total points and leads the Big West in total points and points per game.
Curtis, a freshman from Chesterfield, Michigan, recorded one goal and eight assists for 10 points. Jackson, a senior from Mapleton, Utah, leads the Big West in assists per game and ranks second nationally in total assists with 12.
Owens, a senior from San Clemente, California, anchored a defense that allowed only nine goals in 11 conference matches. Clawson, a senior from American Fork, Utah, recorded eight goals and 17 points, leading the team with four game-winning goals.
The individual honors follow Utah Valley's acquisition of the outright Big West regular-season championship in its first season in the league. The Wolverines finished conference play with an unbeaten 9-0-2 record, marking the first time the program has won a Big West championship.
This victory follows four consecutive Western Athletic Conference championships. The Wolverines currently hold a 13-4-3 overall record and have won eight consecutive matches.
Utah Valley will host a semifinal match on Saturday, Nov. 7, at UCCU Stadium. The match is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
