How a Utah mother of 3 found a home with college soccer's best on championship-level team

PROVO — McKenzie Evans-Tostado knew she wasn't going to be like most of her teammates with Utah United when she first tried out for the pre-professional club's inaugural season in the USL W League.

But that didn't stop her from trying. Not much has stopped her since she wrapped up her college soccer career nearly 10 years ago at BYU-Hawaii.

Evans-Tostado and her teammates — most of them recent high school graduates or current college soccer players close to a decade younger than her — will host the USL W Final at BYU's South Field on Saturday (7 p.m. MDT, tickets here) against the reigning champion North Carolina Courage U23.

"I couldn't live with myself if in 10 years if I gave up something becase I thought I wasn't capable," Evans-Tostado said. "I wanted to take it seriously, and try to compete with high-level soccer players and maybe get a springboard to do something bigger and better."

On the team, Evans-Tostado stands out. A few of the players are married, but she's the only one with three children 4 years old and younger. Naturally, that makes her something of a "team mom."

Rather than holding her back, Evans-Tostado credits her family — specifically, her husband Oveth — for allowing her to chase a dream on which many would have given up long ago, one that involves playing competitive soccer at the highest level possible.

"He's dad, he stays home with the kids a lot, and I don't have to worry about them," Evans-Tostado said. "I've been so lucky to have his support, and all the support that I've had.

"But getting pregnant and having kids — three times, almost back-to-back-to-back — helped me realize that I can do very hard things, too," she added. "I had to do it, and I could step up and do it. Those experiences gave me confidence to step up, to train harder, and to let my insecurities go."

That included the soccer pitch.

Evans grew up in Utah, and scored 16 goals as a senior at Lone Peak in 2011. That helped her earn a spot at BYU-Hawaii, where the Seasiders' team captain earned all-conference honors while finishing a degree in exercise science with an emphasis in fitness and wellness in 2016.

When she returned to Utah, Evans worked in health and fitness, spending more than eight years with Intermountain's The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital (TOSH) before leaving to launch her own personal training company at KNZ Training in 2021.

She never thought soccer would be a lifelong calling. But as Evans continued in her own health journey, she started getting the itch; first it came with Real Salt Lake Women, the now-defunct semipro side coached by former BYU-Hawaii coach Mark Davis that folded when the MLS side partnered to launch Utah Royals FC in the NWSL.

After spending part of the past few seasons with local WPSL clubs, including some seasons mixed with pregnancy, Evans-Tostado tried out for Utah United and earned a spot alongside high-level players like TCU's All-Big 12 striker Seven Castain, the league's golden boot winner, and BYU's Ellie Walbruch.

Initially intimidated by the talent level that also included BYU midfielder Lucy Kesler, Utah State goalkeeper Taylor Rath, Connecticut-bound center back Kaitlyn Richins, and North Carolina signee and U.S. international Bella Devey, Evans-Tostado eventually saw a group of players forming a tight bond and professional training environment that led them to a 9-1 regular-season record, a Mountain division title and a Western Conference championship in less than a year.

"There's nothing I love more than a group of girls who want to step up and compete, and everybody on the team — from training to games — just wanted to compete from the first minute," she said. "And in that way, I knew we had the potential to go far."

Evans-Tostado proved she belonged, too, scoring four goals in nine matches including seven starts and assisting on Walbruch's match-winning goal with a well-placed through ball off her right foot in first-half stoppage time of Utah's 1-0 win over Minnesota Aurora FC in the league semifinals.

"Everybody has their insecurities, and I feel like my game comes from my athleticism — and I know that," Evans-Tostado said.

The former Lone Peak standout couldn't always out-athlete players as many as 10 years younger than her. Instead, she's had to adapt her game to the team — a new challenge for the 31 year old.

"I've learned so much from all of them," she said. "Everyone plays so differently that I'm able to learn so much from them, even this late in the game for me. I've tried to show them about fitness and athleticism, which has really helped me shine and stay in the game

"But if anyone's benefitted from this experience, it's been me."

Related topics