Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
Brigham Young
Rams Hit the Road for a Two-Match Trip Through Utah
8/31/2026 10:07:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Colorado State faces a ranked test at BYU before closing the week against Utah Tech
FORT COLLINS -- Colorado State soccer hits the road for back-to-back matches this week, opening with a trip to No. 15 BYU on Thursday. Kickoff at South Field in Provo is set for 7:30 p.m. MT. The Rams close out the trip Sunday at Utah Tech, with kickoff at Greater Zion Stadium in St. George set for noon MT.
Colorado State's discipline showed up even in Sunday's setback. The Rams held South Carolina, a team drawing votes in this week's national poll, to a single goal despite the 0-1 final. That kind of resistance will be tested again this week: BYU is the second-ranked opponent CSU has faced in non-conference play, following an early-season trip to then-No. 13 Colorado.
The names behind that resistance keep piling up. True freshman Ava Wallhead has been a fixture on the scoresheet, netting a goal in each of her first two collegiate appearances. Mia Casey needs just one more assist to tie Gracie Armstrong atop the program's all-time list and she'll have two more chances to get there this week alone. Sophomore goalkeeper Addison Huber hasn't left the field yet this season, starting and playing every minute between the posts.
Among Pac-12 programs, none has committed fewer fouls per match than CSU, and the Rams rank third in the league in corners earned. Turning that pressure into results is the task this week.
Scouting BYU
No. 15 BYU is 3-1 and riding a two-match win streak, with victories over then-No. 9 UCLA on the road (2-1), USC at home (2-0) and Minnesota at home (1-0), sandwiched around a 0-1 loss at Wisconsin. The Cougars are unbeaten at South Field this season.
Forward Ellie Walbruch and midfielder Lucy Kesler, both preseason All-Big 12 selections, anchor a roster that has found different heroes in different matches. True freshman Brynnli Tolbert scored the game-winner against UCLA in her collegiate debut, and senior Mattyn Summers-Oviatt supplied the equalizer in that same match. Longtime head coach Jennifer Rockwood has made the program a regular fixture in the NCAA Tournament during her tenure, and this year's group has shown it can win in multiple ways, grinding out low-scoring results at home and finding the net against a ranked opponent on the road.
Scouting Utah Tech
The Trailblazers were 2-2-1 through Aug. 27, having just closed a 1-0 shutout win at UC Riverside. Their results have otherwise been a mixed bag with an exhibition win over UNLV, a draw at UC Irvine, a loss at UC San Diego, a bounce-back win over Westminster at home, and then a setback against Portland.
Forward Ella Rusick has been at the center of Utah Tech's attack, scoring 64 seconds into the season opener and adding two more in the loss to UC San Diego. She's no stranger to CSU, either. Rusick's game-winning goal with 30 seconds left beat the Rams in last year's meeting between the programs.Â
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Record Watch: Career Assists
1. Gracie Armstrong (2019–21) – 13
2. Mia Casey (2023–Pres.) – 12
3. Avery Vander Ven (2023–24) – 8
Liv Layton (2019–22) – 8
4. Sofia Coulombe (2023–2025) – 6
Olivia Fout (2023–2025) – 6
What's Ahead
CSU returns home Sept. 10 to host Kansas State for Cancer Awareness Night at Rams Soccer Field.
