Upcoming Event: Soccer versus West Virginia on September 27, 2025 at 6 p.m.
6 p.m.
Soccer
vs West Virginia
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Sunday, November 20
Los Angeles, Calif.
1:00 PM
University of Utah
13-4-5
0
at
1
USC
16-4-2
1
2
F
Utah
0
0
0
USC
0
1
1
No. 23 Utah Soccer Falls in NCAA Third Round at No. 7 USC, 1-0
11/20/2016 4:33 PM | Soccer
Utes best postseason run comes to an end
LOS ANGELES - The best postseason run in Utah Soccer history came to a climactic end this afternoon in a 1-0 loss at No. 7 USC. The Utes, playing in the third round for the first time, were unable to top their Pac-12 rivals on this rainy Sunday.
"One of the things you want as a coach is for your players to buy in, soak everything up and enjoy the journey," head coach Rich Manning said. "These players have done that extremely well.
I'm really proud of the way we have played soccer. We continued to improve against a very difficult schedule and it's incredible, just two losses in our last 17 matches. I'm really proud of them and every one of them has a bright future ahead."
Utah started off aggressively earning three corner kicks in succession to begin the contest. Cabria Turang had the best chance for her side, firing wide off the initial attempt.
USC eased into the contest and July Mathias was quick to react on a pair of saves, stopping Amanda Rooney and Nicole Molen.
After the first 15 minutes, each side only mustered one good chance for the remained of the half. Aleea Gwerder tested Sammy Jo Prudhomme and Mathias denied Sydney Sladek
The second half began like the first. Hailey Skolmoski had an attempt blocked and the ball fell to Gwerder. The freshman's attempt fell to Prudhomme and minutes later, the USC goalkeeper denied Taylor Slattery on a pair of shots.
At the other end, Mathias continued to keep Utah in the match, making a pair of saves on Katie Johnson. In the 65th minute, Slattery sailed one just over the bar as zeros remained on the scoreboard.
USC finally got the breakthrough in the 73rd minute. Off a corner kick, Leah Pruitt was able to get a try on goal. After Mathias made the initial save, the ball slipped back to Pruitt who poked home her fourth of the season.
The Utes mustered up one final chance as the ball fell to Friday's hero, Haylee Cacciacarne. Alas, there was no last-minute magic today as her shot sailed straight to Prudhomme.
"Freshman year made us hungry and after a rough two seasons, we were starving," Slattery said. "We wanted to come back and finish things on a good note. It is hard for us right now, really bittersweet. Once you get to this spot, you just want more and to keep advancing."
"It may sound strange, but I'm really grateful that I tore my ACL as a freshman because it gave me the opportunity to play with these girls," senior Katie Rogers said. "I'm so lucky because every single person on this team brought so much day in and day out. You become sisters and family and it makes everything so hard now. Our little group is a snowflake because every one is unique."
Utah was making its seventh appearance in the tournament and second in four years. The Utes placed fourth in the Pac-12 this season with its highest point total (22) since joining in 2011. Utah also racked up 13 wins, it's most since 2006.
Team Stats
UTAH
USC
Goals
0
1
Shots
8
18
Shots on Goal
5
7
Saves
6
5
Corners
3
3
Fouls
7
14
Scoring Plays
Pruitt, Leah (4)
off corner, shot saved, puts away reboun
72:30
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ SoccerDefender
/ Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ SoccerForward/Defender
/ SoccerForward
/ Soccer
Forward/Midfielder
/ SoccerUtah Soccer's Lilliah Blum - ESPN+ Feature
Wednesday, September 24
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Tony Caridi, voice of the West Virginia Mountaineers
Tuesday, September 23
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Urban Meyer
Wednesday, September 17
Utah Soccer's Grace Watkins - ESPN+ Feature
Sunday, September 14