After a 2024 season where the Weber State University women’s soccer team saw victory in only two out of 20 games, head coach Craig Sanders retired after the season. Sanders was then replaced by Kyle Christensen, who previously coached at Utah Valley University.
Weber State lost its top scorer in Ali Swensen, who transferred to the University of Utah. Swensen contributed five goals and four assists in the 2024 season, along with starting defender Carly Brimhall, who transferred to the University of North Dakota.
Going into the 2025 season, the Wildcats have nine freshmen coming in: Goalkeeper Lauren Butorac; defenders Kaitlin Dean, Cadence Packer and Bailey Brown; midfielders Brooklyn Phongsavath and Nellie Brooks; and forwards Simone Packer, Ruby Lee and Haley Hutchins. Along with redshirt freshman McKenzie Taylor, who redshirted for the Wildcats during the 2023 season, recently returned from her 18-month mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Finland.
The Wildcats also saw a few freshmen transfers: forward/defender Oakley Anderson from Boise State University and forwards Tenzi Knowles and Presley Ray from Utah State University.
“Tenzi is a super creative player … I think she has even higher levels of her to reach. As the season goes on, I expect her to showcase her abilities even more,” said Christensen.
Sammie Sofonia received All-Big Sky honorable mention last season with being the second top scorer with four goals on the season. Returning now for her senior season, Sofonia and the Wildcats looked to get off on the right track this season.
“We are in a really good spot … I couldn’t be happier of the upperclassmen and how they’ve adapted to everything,” said Christensen.
Weber opened up the regular season playing against the University of Oregon Ducks. The game took place in Eugene, Oregon. Weber State competed in the shot category, taking 13 to the Ducks’ 17. Oregon was the more efficient team, scoring twice in the first half and twice again in the second and winning the game 4–0 for the first regular season game.
For the second game of the season, the Wildcats faced off against the Oregon State University Beavers. Like the previous game, the Wildcats gave up two goals in the first half. The second half brought new life. Weber won the shot battle 24–15, peppering the Beavers’ Goalie with relentless shots. Sayler Schlosser scored 1:34 into the second half to cut the deficit in half. Five minutes later, Brynlee Meyerhoffer joined the fun and tied the game up at 2–2. Then yet again, five minutes later, this time Lily Blum scored the game winner as Weber completed the comeback and won 3–2.
Weber is looking forward to the upcoming fixtures featuring in state teams and others before starting conference play on Sep. 25.
