Utah Valley to Host Western Michigan at America First Field in Sandy

SANDY, Utah — Utah Valley men’s soccer head coach Kyle Beckerman has announced his team will host the Western Michigan Broncos on August 27 at America First Field in Sandy, the home field of Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake.

Admission is free to the public and concessions will be available. Fans will park on the west side of the stadium and enter at the Spanish Steps. Gates will open at 12 p.m. MDT and kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. MDT.

Beckerman is entering his third season as the head coach at Utah Valley and has posted a 16-14-3 record in his first two seasons. Beckerman returns to his home field of 14 years with his squad of Wolverines that are looking to build off an historic home season in 2022. Utah Valley went undefeated at home for the first time in program history last year, out-scoring the opposition 10-1 in five games at Clyde Field.

The Wolverines will take on a Western Michigan squad that is coming off one of its best seasons in program history, winning the MAC Tournament title and reaching the Sweet 16 for the second time. The Broncos ultimately fell to the Portland Pilots, whom Utah Valley will face on Sept. 4. Utah Valley and Western Michigan have never played each other on the soccer pitch. The Wolverines are 2-0 all-time against the MAC, with wins over Northern Illinois and Akron.

Utah Valley and RSL have built a strong partnership over the years. Dozens of Wolverines have come through the RSL Academy ranks, including six on this year’s team. Many have also participated in off-season training sessions with the MLS side as well as their USL affiliate, Real Monarchs. The two clubs have also held numerous scrimmages and training matches over the years, including a friendly this past February against Real Monarchs. RSL also hosted many of Utah Valley’s men’s and women’s soccer home matches at the Zions Bank Indoor Training Field in Herriman during the Spring 2021 season.

Beckerman was named the head coach of UVU men’s soccer in April of 2021 shortly after retiring from a monumentally successful 21-year professional and international career in December of 2020. He spent 14 of those seasons in Utah with RSL, where he was a captain and led the club to a 2009 MLS Cup. He also had 58 caps as a member of the U.S. National Team, including starting appearances in the 2014 World Cup. In 2020, he was named one of Major League Soccer’s 25 Greatest Players of all-time.