* The MWC has three teams advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. The three MWC teams also equals the most advancing in league history.
* The MWC has a 9-15-2 overall postseason record, including an Elite Eight appearance by BYU in 2003. Last season BYU, Utah and UNLV advanced to the tournament, with Utah falling to Arizona, 1-0, in the first round, BYU tying Weber State (Wildcats advanced on penalty kicks) and UNLV falling to Cal State Fullerton, 1-0 (OT).
BYU (13-2-4, 4-1-2 MWC)
* During BYU's run to the Elite Eight in 2003, the Cougars started first and second-round play in Salt Lake City, Utah. BYU's senior class were freshman when the Cougars advanced to the Elite Eight.
* The Cougars are making their ninth NCAA appearance in 10 years. BYU will face Portland for the fith time in school history. The Pilots hold a 1-3 advantage, including a 2-0 win at home in 2002.
UNLV (9-10-3, 3-4-0 MWC)
* The Rebels have met UCLA in women's soccer once before, with the Bruins scoring the lone goal with just three seconds left to claim a 1-0 win on Oct. 3, 2003, at Peter Johann Memorial Field in Las Vegas in front of a record crowd of 1,664.
* Friday night's game will also be a homecoming for second-year UNLV head coach Kat Mertz, as she was an assistant on the UCLA staff from 2000-2004 before taking over as the Rebels' coach in April of 2005.
* UNLV is playing in the NCAAs for the third straight year, and the second consecutive time as an automatic bid after earning an at-large bid in 2004.
Utah (15-4-1, 7-0-0 MWC)
* Utah's all-time postseason record is 12-9-4, including a 1-3-1 mark in the NCAA Championship. The Utes are making their fifth NCAA appearance all-time and their fifth in a row (2002, `03, `04, `05, `06), all coming under Rich Manning. Utah has moved beyond the first round once, defeating BYU 3-2 in overtime on Nov. 14, 2002 in Provo, Utah. The Utes tied Idaho State 0-0 in the first round on Nov. 13, 2003 at Ute Field, losing the shootout 5-4.
* Utah has 11 shutouts in 2006 and did not allow a goal in any of the seven Mountain West games, setting a school and conference record. The most shutouts in a season in school history is 13 in 2003. The Utes allowed only one goal (to UNLV in a 5-1 win) in conference play that season.
* Utah's 15 wins this season is the second-best mark in the 12-year history of the program.
