LARAMIE, Wyoming (9/23/25) – The University of Wyoming soccer team opens Mountain West Conference play this week. The Cowgirls travel to Boise State on Thursday for a 7 p.m. contest at Boas Soccer Complex before going to Utah State on Sunday for a 1 p.m. match at the Chuck and Gloria Bell Soccer Field.
The Pokes possess a 5-2-2 overall record after a noteworthy non-conference that saw them allow the fewest goals, six, that they've ever surrendered in the pre-conference season. It also featured a win over No. 15 Georgia, which is in large part as to why Wyoming owns its highest RPI ranking at No. 83.
"We had a good non-conference, record wise, and some really good performances that we can lean on," head coach
Josh Purdum said. "We are still developing, and we are still trying to figure out what our best looks like. Weekend to weekend we are not as consistent as I'd like us to be."
The stiff challenges continue this week. Boise State – which is 2-3-4 overall – is the defending regular-season conference champions and Utah State – which is 3-4-2 overall – is the defending conference tournament champions.
"Being 0-0, everyone is going to be looking at getting that first win for momentum going forward," Purdum said. "It's going to be a battle. We have to have the right mindset going into conference and treat it like a new season."
Alyssa Glover netted her league-leading sixth goal at South Dakota on Sunday. She also has a pair of assists for a Mountain West-high 14 points.
Haley Bartel is a big reason as to why the Pokes are off to a stout defensive start. She's made 28 saves, lays claim to a GAA of 0.67 and five shutouts.
While the Broncos aren't off to the start they desired, they've held the upper hand against Wyoming in recent memory. Boise State has won eight straight and holds a 12-8-2 edge in the all-time series.
Kenzie Macmillan paces the Broncos with four goals and two assists for 10 points. Ava De Leest has started all but one match in net and has recorded 21 saves with 10 goals allowed for a GAA of 1.26. She also has one shutout.
Utah State – which hosts Colorado State on Thursday – is also not off to its normal torrid start to the season. However, its record is somewhat misleading as its played four power-four conference foes.
Hadli Barrera and Diamond Summer lead the Aggies with two goals apiece. Taylor Rath has started all games in net and has 22 saves, having allowed nine goals for a GAA of 1.03. She has three shutouts to her name.
Utah State holds a slight edge in the all-time series, 11-9-2. The Cowgirls upset the No. 11 Aggies last year, 2-0, in Laramie, marking the Pokes' first ranked win in program history.
Following the trip to Logan, Wyoming returns home for four straight. The first of those is UNLV on Oct. 2.
