The University of Utah women’s soccer team wrapped up its non-conference schedule on Sunday, Sept. 14 following a challenging three-match home stand that saw the Utes go 1-2, with a win over Utah Tech sandwiched between losses to LSU and Oregon State. Despite the mixed results, Utah enters Big 12 conference play with a 5-3-1 record and optimism about its overall performance through the first month of the season.
The stretch began on a tough note as Utah suffered a 2-0 loss to LSU Sept. 8. The Tigers struck twice in the opening half, taking control with goals in the 15th and 43rd minutes. Despite trailing at halftime, Utah responded with a dominant second half. The Utes held LSU without a single shot after the break, outshooting the visitors 9-0 and earning all nine second-half corner kicks. But despite the pressure, Utah was unable to find the back of the net.
“I’m very disappointed in today’s showing,” head coach Hideki Nakada said. “We came out flat and put ourselves in a difficult position in the first half.”
Utah bounced back four days later with a 2-1 win over Utah Tech, earning the program’s 300th all-time victory. The Utes got on the board early thanks to a set piece, an area they had been emphasizing in training. In the 17th minute, Ryann Cull delivered a corner into the box, sparking a scramble that ended with Kelly Bullock knocking in her third goal of the season. Bullock now leads the team with eight points and is tied for the team lead in goals.
Just 13 minutes later, freshman Reese Kennel sent a cross into the path of fellow freshman Abby Affleck, who scored her first collegiate goal to give Utah a 2-0 cushion. Utah Tech responded before halftime with a goal off a free kick, but the Utes’ defense locked in for the final 45 minutes. Brooklyn Blaylock helped keep the lead intact with a key goal-line clearance in the 69th minute, and Utah saw out the win with composed possession in the final moments.
“Good result at home tonight against a tough Utah Tech team,” Nakada said. “I’m glad we were able to score off a corner kick, something we’ve been working on, and Kelly did a great job pouncing on the second ball.”
Utah’s nonconference finale came against Oregon State, and the Utes looked sharp early. Cull and Mia Paugh connected in the second minute on yet another set piece goal, giving Utah an early 1-0 lead. But the match turned when Utah was reduced to 10 players after Devi Dudley received a red card in the 18th minute. Despite playing a woman down for more than 70 minutes, Utah held a 1-0 lead into the break.
The Beavers tied it shortly after halftime and went ahead in the 72nd minute on a long-range strike. Utah continued to generate chances late, including shots from Bella Woods, Ali Swensen and Bullock, but each attempt missed by inches as the Utes fell 2-1.
“Really disappointing and unfortunate result for us today,” Nakada said. “Playing a player down for 72 minutes is extremely difficult, but we could have managed the game better and still created more than enough opportunities to win, which makes it tough to walk away with a loss.”
Despite the outcome, Utah once again dominated in key metrics. The Utes held a 17-8 edge in shots and a 7-2 advantage in corners, marking the eighth time in nine games they have outshot their opponent. Their ability to create chances and generate set-piece offense has become a trademark of their style.
Utah now turns its focus to Big 12 conference play, where they will face a level of competition in one of the nation’s top soccer conferences. The Utes open their Big 12 season on the road against No. 14 TCU on Friday, Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. MDT. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
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Source: https://dailyutahchronicle.com/2025/09/15/utah-womens-soccer-wraps-non-conference-play-5-3-1/
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