LARAMIE, Wyoming (8/18/26) – The University of Wyoming soccer team returns home this week. The Cowgirls host Weber State on Thursday at 4 p.m. at the Madrid Sports Complex. The match can be streamed live on MW+.

The Pokes are 2-0-0 on the young season. They scored the latest non-golden goal game-winning score in program history to defeat Drake, 1-0, in the season opener before easing past Northern Colorado, 3-0, in the Front Range Derby.

It's a small sample size, but head coach Josh Purdum is pleased with the diversity of playing styles his team has seen and had to adjust to thus far in 2026.

"We are seeing different systems challenge us in different ways," Purdum said. "We are seeing how teams are putting us in pressure pockets or not, and we are figuring out how we can exploit teams differently."

Four different goal scorers have emerged in just two matches. That's a stark difference between this year and last, as it took 13 matches to find a fourth goal scorer in 2025.

Alyssa Glover is a proven commodity, and Maddie Burr has scored before, as well. But the emergence of other offensive threats like Reese Gould and Brooke Brown – both netted their first-career goals on Sunday – give Wyoming offensive depth that it hasn't had in a couple of years.

Goalkeeper, Haley Bartel, has been her usual stout self. She hasn't allowed a score yet, setting the new program record for career shutouts with 20.   

Weber State is 0-1-1 on the year. The Wildcats began the season with an impressive 0-0 draw at Utah prior to dropping a 4-1 decision at home to Boise State.

Weber State was picked to win the Big Sky Conference in the Preseason Coaches' Poll. That comes on the heels of the Wildcats finishing second in the final conference standings in 2025 and falling in penalties to Montana in the league tournament title match.

"Weber is going to be a very organized team and a very competitive team," Purdum said. "They're going to look to clip us on Thursday, so we have to be prepared for them." 

After Thursday, Wyoming has a week off between matches. The Cowgirls will next take the pitch when they host South Carolina on Aug. 27 in what will be one of the biggest matches in the history of the Madrid Sports Complex.

About the MW+

You can watch Wyoming Athletics all season long on the MW+ with all UW home games and all MW conference games on the state-of-the-art app. Fans will also find replays of games, Ragtime Replays featuring great contests in Wyoming history along with other exclusive content. A majority of each subscription purchased through Wyoming's dedicated page will directly support Wyoming Athletics and the Cowboy Joe Club, creating a scalable and sustainable revenue opportunity aligned with fan engagement.