Utah Soccer Stays Unbeaten with Draw at Kentucky

Sunday, August 25

Lexington, Ky.

11:00 AM

University of Utah

1-0-1

Kentucky

0-1-1

OT 3

OT 4

Utah

Kentucky

Utah Soccer Stays Unbeaten with Draw at Kentucky

8/25/2013 12:00 AM | Soccer

Box Score

Aug 25, 2013

Final Stats

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Utah soccer maintained its unbeaten start to the regular season with a 0-0 double overtime draw at Kentucky this afternoon. Redshirt sophomore Lindsey Luke and the Ute defense recorded their second shutout this season in as many games.

"Kentucky provided us with a really good challenge and it was a great experience for our team," Head Coach Rich Manning said. "I thought when they broke us down a little bit, we consistently recovered and maintained aggressiveness, so I was pleased with that."

For Luke, it was the sixth shutout of her career as she made four saves, two in the second overtime. The Utah defense has now kept their opponents off the board for the last 200 minutes and started a season with consecutive clean sheets for the first time since 2005.

"I thought we showed a lot of guts on the road and had solid performances from our defenders," Manning added. "Jenny Hutton was fantastic on the left side, coming forward and providing when we needed her. Harley Spier was a welcome addition back on the field and Katie Rigby was also very good in closing down the middle of the field. Having those players return from their respective injuries, was definitely a lift for our team. Finally, Ali Forsberg probably played her best game she's ever played. She was busy, industrious and created opportunities."

Within the first five minutes of play, Avery Ford had the first scoring opportunity, but UK countered and on the other end, Luke denied Zoe Swift on a breakaway. Baylee Nielsen pinged Utah's best try in the first period off the post in the 27th minute.

Katie Rigby and Monica Okapal both had looks at goal in the waning minutes of the stanza, but were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the Utah defense held Kentucky without a shot over the final 13 minutes of the half.

Katie Taylor got things going in the second half with a try that went wide left. Then, Jill Robison had a great chance saved in the 62nd minute that looked like it would break the deadlock.

Luke made another big save on Swift in the 71st minute and after Ford missed wide right, Friday's hero, Nielsen, had a header attempt blocked with four minutes to go.

Utah, which was 1-2-3 in overtime contests last season, generated a corner in the first overtime but could not muster a shot. Taylor had an attempt blocked in the second overtime and Luke denied Katie Hubly and Swift to ensure the scoreless draw.

"This was a good result," Manning added. "We learned a lot about ourselves and now we can go back to the practice field this coming week and get better. The overall feeling is positive because we played with guts and really showed a fighting spirit."

For the contest, Kentucky out-shot Utah 13-9 and also held the edge in corners, 5-4. The Utes stay on the road to play Cal State Fullerton with the contest scheduled for Friday at 8 p.m. MT.

Utah Starting XI: Luke (GK), Ford, Hutton, Spier, Trabert, Wisner, Forsberg, Nielsen, Okapal, Robison, Taylor