Arizona soccer looks to improve, new 2024 Big 12 schedule released

The Arizona soccer team recently had its 2024 Big 12 Conference schedule released. The Wildcats finished in the lower part of the Pac-12 Conference standings with a 3-6-2 conference record and a 6-8-5 overall season record. They will be looking to improve greatly once those Big 12 games start.

Arizona has never faced five of its upcoming opponents in program history; the University of Cincinnati, West Virginia University, the University of Central Florida, the University of Houston and Kansas State University.

Big 12 wrap-up and upcoming schedule:

For the 2023 season, Texas Tech University saw the best Big 12 record of 8-0-2 in conference play. Turning to the Big 12 Tournament, the Red Raiders were knocked out by the University of Texas at Austin. The Longhorns would go on to face Brigham Young University in the Big 12 Tournament final, with the Longhorns winning 3-1. They would win the conference tournament in their final season before their move to the Southeastern Conference. However, the Cougars would go into the NCAA Tournament and make it to the final before a heartbreaking 2-0 loss.

The Wildcats will begin their 2024 Big 12 campaign with three away games: the University of Utah on Sept. 12, Baylor University on Sept. 19 and TCU on Sept. 22.

They then travel back to Tucson to play their first three home games at Murphey Field at Mulcahy Stadium against Cincinnati on Sept. 26, West Virginia on Sept. 29 and BYU on Oct. 4.

They venture back on the road to play at UCF on Oct. 10, then at Houston on Oct. 13. The Wildcats return home for their final two home games against the University of Kansas on Oct. 17, then Kansas State on Oct. 20.

Arizona’s final conference game of the season is against rivals, ASU, which will be played in Tempe on Oct. 25.

Players leaving and returning:

The big news for the Wildcats after their 2023 season was the selection of goalkeeper Hope Hisey in the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League Draft. Hisey was taken in the fourth round with the 46th overall pick by the Kansas City Current.

With the departure of Hisey, there is now an opportunity for sophomore Ciara Ulreich-Power to start. Ulreich-Power will be getting her first opportunity to play on the pitch, as last season saw her receive no time in goal. She remains the only goalkeeper on the roster, forcing her to go from no playing time to being a cornerstone of the starting 11.

Arizona retained its highest goal scorer of 2023, Nicole Dallin, who had 9 goals and two assists for the Wildcats. However, one of the biggest offensive losses will be in Cameron Valladares. Valladares scored 4 goals and one assist for the Wildcats last season, putting her second in scoring. However, this offseason saw her make the move up north to Tempe to join ASU’s team.

Recently Arizona has brought in two more players, those being defender Rikako Hayami from Arizona Western College and forward Sydney Osborn, who last played for the Slammers in the Elite Club National League.

With new players joining the squad as the Wildcats prepare for entrance into the Big 12, their additions will be ones to watch for fans as the team looks to make some noise heading into the upcoming season.