Weber State soccer happy for success but hungry as Big Sky tournament arrives
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- Weber State players Tenzi Knowls and Grace Kirby, center, embrace after scoring a goal against Utah Valley on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Weber State forward/midfielder Tenzi Knowles rears back to strike the ball against Utah Valley on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Weber State forward Simone Packer, center, moves the ball against Sacramento State on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, at Wildcat Soccer Field in Ogden.
OGDEN — Weber State women’s soccer went from almost hapless to pretty happy in one season.
The 2025 Wildcats racked up 11 wins — more than the program totaled in the last three seasons combined — on the way to a second-place finish in the Big Sky and the associated first-round bye in the upcoming conference tournament.
The one-year turnaround under new head coach Kyle Christensen is perhaps best summed up in the following facts: WSU went from two league wins amid a two-year absence from the Big Sky tournament, to four individual Big Sky postseason awards.
Those are: goalkeeper Lauren Butorac is the conference freshman of the year, junior forward Presley Ray is newcomer of the year (transferred from Utah State), Christensen is the coach of the year, and senior Grace Kirby is the golden boot winner for most goals scored during conference play.
Kirby scored seven goals this season with four in conference play; she won the golden boot thanks to tiebreaking assists and a hat trick in the finale at Idaho State.
“It’s just kind of how the game played out. It made me super excited to finish out with a hat trick, just super grateful,” Kirby said.
Perhaps the most satisfying part is that, outside of key transfers in Ray and Tenzi Knowles, with the freshman keeper Butorac, Kirby and this 2025 squad is largely the same one that worked through those difficult seasons.
“It means the world to me,” said Kirby, the Fremont High alum. “It feels really good to see it all come together. Our coaching staff made it happen; we just needed a little bit of belief and leadership.”
Kirby said the team’s buy-in to the philosophies of how to start halves and how to win back balls with pressure are big components to the turnaround.
“When we’re all on the same page, and we’re all super intense in the first 15 minutes, games go our way,” Kirby said. “So it’s definitely that buy-in, our belief in ourselves and our confidence.”
Christensen said the team’s hunger to get better and win games has been apparent from the start.
“The girls were eager and there’s been a great overall desire from the team to continue to improve,” Christensen said. “For the group to get a bye is a massive accomplishment and sets us up to have success.
“We’ve had players step up across the field. Bella Sackett in the back line has stepped up. Oakley Anderson … plays outside back and covers so much ground for us. Our midfield has a lot of experience with Brynlee (Meyerhoffer), Tenzi and Lily (Blum) as well; they have been extremely dynamic and done a great job.
“And our front three are a handful for defenses. There’s pace that we have and energy in how we press defensively.”
Now, though, it’s time to put that satisfaction aside as the conference tournament begins. Hosted at Montana, the first round begins Wednesday. Weber State (11-6-1) draws the winner from No. 3 Eastern Washington (8-6-4) and No. 6 Northern Arizona (5-5-7) in a match at 11 a.m. Friday.
Christensen says he thinks his team has the right approach.
“I think the girls have a good balance of kind of that underdog mentality, to want to prove ourselves, but at the same time enough confidence that we have a shot at winning this tournament,” Christensen said.
WSU travels to Montana without knowing who it will face Friday. Christensen said they’ll watch film on both possible semifinal opponents, but also that he leans toward focusing on his Wildcats and if they’re ready to be the best versions of themselves.
Kirby said she’ll focus on the same thing she has this season: loving her teammates, building each other up and knowing they’re good enough to beat anybody.
Even when that means the chance at getting a rematch against No. 1 Montana, who beat up WSU 4-0 earlier this season.
“We made some pretty bad mistakes that cost us the game, so hopefully we play them again,” Kirby said. “I’m excited for Friday’s game. I think we can use that to give us confidence for the final so we can win the championship.”
Christensen says his message to players is that the job is not done.
“I’m so happy for these upperclassmen to experience a good season like we’ve had, but I am pounding it in their heads that we’re not done,” he said. “There’s so much more we can push to gain and accomplish, and we’re trying to keep them as hungry as possible — so then the story keeps getting better and better.”
BIG SKY TOURNAMENT
Missoula, Montana — All games on ESPN+
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 5
11 a.m. — No. 3 Eastern Washington vs. No. 6 Northern Arizona
2 p.m. — No. 4 Portland State vs. No. 5 Idaho
FRIDAY, NOV. 7
11 a.m. — No. 2 Weber State vs. EWU/NAU
2 p.m. — No. 1 Montana vs. PSU/Idaho
SUNDAY, NOV. 9
1 p.m. — Championship final
