OREM, Utah — Freshman
Marely Velazquez Varela netted her third goal of the season late in the second half on Wednesday night, but host Utah Valley had the match well in hand as the Wolverines posted a 6-1 victory over the Hornets at UCCU Stadium in Orem, Utah.
Sacramento State fell to 5-6-5 overall and 1-4-3 in Big West play, while Utah Valley kept pace atop the league table, improving to 10-4-3 overall and 6-0-2 in conference.
The Wolverines scored twice in the first half and added four more in the second en route to the win, but it was Velazquez Varela that spoiled the shutout with her score in the 75th minute. Teammate
Mia Jackson started the sequence by poking away a ball from an Utah Valley defender as the Wolverines looked to break out.
Jaety Mandaquit then took a touch in space and stretched to feed Velazquez Varela near the top of the 18, where the freshman deftly navigated her way around a defender and moved into the box with only the goalkeeper in front of her. Velazquez Varela took once touch and then curled a left-footed shot off the fingers of the goalkeeper and into the right side of the net.
The three goals and seven points for Velazquez Varela moved her into a tie for third on the team in scoring while the totals are the most for a Hornet true freshman since Abigail Lopez scored four times and posted 10 points in 2021. The assists were the second of the year for Jackson and the first for Mandaquit, with the former moving into sole possession of second place on the team with eight points.
Sadie Beardall scored twice and tallied two assists to lead the way for Utah Valley, while three other Wolverines found the back of the net and the team added an own goal to account for the final totals.
Sacramento State returns home on Saturday (Oct. 24) at 3 p.m., welcoming CSUN to Hornet Soccer Field in the team's penultimate home match of 2026. The Hornets will honor four seniors prior to kick-off against the Matadors at approximately 2:45 p.m. as part of "Senior Day" festivities.
