Utah Valley beat Cal State Bakersfield 3-2 to claim the 2026 Big West regular-season title, its first conference championship in 10 years and its first season in the league. Jose Luis Martin Montealegre led the way with two goals and an assist, while Oliver Watts scored the opener. The win also secured Utah Valley the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage in the conference tournament.

By the Numbers
  • Final score: Utah Valley 3, Cal State Bakersfield 2.
  • Montealegre recorded 2 goals and 1 assist; his 8 goals this season are tied for fifth-most in program history.
  • Utah Valley claimed its first league title in 10 years and its first double-digit-win season since 2019.
Yes, But

Cal State Bakersfield kept the finish tense, scoring in the final minutes after a VAR review overturned an initial handball call. The Roadrunners had earlier tied the game, but Utah Valley’s late goal held up for the win.

State of Play
  • Utah Valley is the No. 1 seed and will host Cal State Bakersfield in the Big West semifinals.
  • The tournament begins Nov. 7, with kickoff scheduled for 2 p.m. MT.
What's Next

Utah Valley faces the same Cal State Bakersfield team again in the semifinals. A win would send the Wolverines to the final against UC Irvine or UC Santa Barbara.

Bottom Line

Utah Valley turned a title-deciding rivalry game into a statement win—and now has home-field advantage as it pursues a Big West tournament championship.