Utah Soccer Hosts BYU on Monday

Utah vs. BYU
Date: Monday, Sept. 5
Location: Ute Field
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. MT

The Deseret Duel Rivalry Series
Monday's matchup between Utah and BYU will mark the first contest of the 2016-17 Deseret First Duel rivalry series. This is the 10th year of the rivalry series that includes each sport where Utah and BYU compete head-to-head during regular-season play.

The Deseret First Duel uses a system that awards points to the winner of each competition. A team trophy will be awarded to the individual winner in each sport. Points won by the individual sports will count toward each school's overall total. A granite traveling trophy is awarded to the overall series champion each year.

BYU won last season's competition, snapping a three-year run for the Utes (2013-15). The school that wins the head-to-head competition in each sport is also awarded $1,000 by Deseret First Credit Union for its student-athlete scholarship fund. The university that wins the most sports at the end of the season will receive an additional $5,000 from Deseret First for its athletic scholarship fund

Weekend Sweep
Utah Soccer has won three of its first four games for the second time in three years after sweeping last weekend's contests vs. San Diego (3-0) and at Utah State (3-0).

The Utes lead the Pac-12 with 10 goals and that total through four contests is the highest mark since they scored 12 in 2009 and started 4-0-0.

They also pace the conference with 12 assists and 30 corner-kick opportunities. Defensively, they are atop the Pac-12 with three shutouts between two goalkeepers, sophomore July Mathias and freshman Carly Nelson

Skolmoski Named Pac-12 Player of Week
Utah's Hailey Skolmoski was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week on Aug. 30. The sophomore netted twice in the Ute wins over San Diego and then once more in the victory at Utah State this past weekend.

This is the first weekly honor for Skolmoski and she becomes Utah's first Offensive Player of the Week in program history. This is also Utah's 10th Pac-12 weekly honor since joining the conference.

Skolmoski has scored four goals in four contests to pace the Pac-12. That total also marks the most by a Ute player since the 2013 season.

Jacobsen's Offensive Jump
Eden Jacobsen played every game as a freshman, starting seven in the midfield, but failed to register a single point for the Utes. This season, she is blossoming and sits third in the Pac-12 with two goals and five points.

Jacobsen starred at Woods Cross High School, 15 minutes from campus, and her father, Eric, was an all-conference selection and captain of the football team during his time at Utah. Her uncle Chad also suited up for the Utes.

Facilitating Feet
Fourteen players in the Pac-12 have multiple assists this season and Utah has four of them, more than any other team. Katie Rogers and Taylor Slattery, the two Utes with the most career assists on the current roster, are joined by Cabria Turang and newcomer Aleea Gwerder.

Rogers, a three-time Pac-12 All-Academic selection, moved into a more defensive midfield role last season and started all but one contest for the Utes. Slattery had a double-digit point output as a freshman and gained a starting spot last season, with 13 contests up front.

Turang has already graduated with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in Disability Studies and Gwerder led Washington Premier to a U18 Rainier Challenge championship
Gwerder's emergence at the back, along with the play of two other freshmen, Tavia Leachman and Natalee Wells has helped this team transformation.

Leachman, a center back, led powerhouse Long Beach Poly to three-consecutive Moore League titles and has played all but five minutes this season. Wells was ranked as the no. 5 recruit in the state of Utah by MaxPreps and has moved back from a midfield role at the start of the season to serve as Leachman's partner in the middle.

Gwerder has been complemeted on the other side by junior Janie Kearl who started last season primarily in the midfield. A former First Team All-State selection, she helped lead East HS to a pair of regional championships.

How I Spent My Summer
Utah Soccer traveled to Germany for three matches during a 10-day stretch in mid-May.

"It was an amazing trip because we got to go to a different country and experience things as a team," senior Katie Rogers stated. "We already had tight unit off the field and that translated to our play this spring. This experience only improved our team's chemistry."

The Utes traveled to a number of cities including Frankfurt, Munich and Augsburg while also making a jaunt into the Alps. Utah played matches against SC Opel 06 Ru¨sselheim, MTV Dießen and FC Staad.

"This trip was an incredible opportunity for our players and staff," head coach Rich Manning said. "We played quality teams and watched some top-level matches that involved the best European soccer has to offer."

The group took in a Bundesliga match between FC Augsburg and Hamburger SV, visited a TSV Hoffenheim practice at its training ground and took a tour of the Allianz Arena, home of German champion Bayern Munich.

How I Spent My Summer (Part 2)
Utah Soccer newcomer Holly Daugirda spent her summer in New Zealand where she suited up for the U.S. Under-19 Women's National Team.

After training camp in Chula Vista, California, Daugirda and the U19's traveled to New Zealand for three matches in 12 days. Daugirda started for the U19's at right back in a 2-1 win over the New Zealand National Team and a 4-4 draw against the New Zealand U20's. The Salt Lake City native is attempting to earn a spot on the U.S. U20 squad, which will take part in the World Cup this November in Papua New Guinea.

The U-19's also traveled to Spain in March and picked up a pair of 1-0 wins over Norway and England while playing out a goalless draw with Denmark. Daugirda started in defense for both victories and entered as a substitute in the draw.

The reigning NSCAA and Gatorade Player of the year for the state of Utah, Daugirda led Skyline High School to an 18-1-1 record and the Class 4A state championship in 2015. The Deseret News Class 4A MVP and a three-time First Team All-State selection, Daugirda concluded her prep soccer career with 76 goals.

Talent in Utah's New Class
The Utes brought in 11 newcomers this season and all of them were successful in high school and at the club level. In addition to those already mentioned, the Utes boast Haylee Cacciacarne, the Deseret News' Ms. Soccer 2015, Ireland Dunn, the 2015 Deseret News 5A Most Valuable Player and Carly Nelson, a two-time First Team All-State goalkeeper.

Ella Ballstaedt scored 40 goals during her high school career, Kristin Fairbairn spent three years with the BC Provincial Team at the National training Center, Isabel Jones was a two-time Deseret News All-State performer, and Natalie Kump was First Team All-Area, All-League, All-State, League MVP and Offensive Player of the Year at Elko HS in Nevada

Series History
Despite winning this contest the last two times at Ute Field, Utah is 7-20-1 all-time against the Cougars and 4-8-0 in Salt Lake City.

Utah has won the last two meetings here by 1-0 scores. Katie Taylor converted a penalty to seal a 1-0 win in 2014 and Jill Robison netted the winner for the Utes in 2012.

Entering the weekend, Utah is 18-36-7 in its history against teams from the West Coast Conference.

Pac-12 Postseason Recognition
Utah Soccer had two players honored by the Pac-12 Conference to close the 2015 season and freshman sensation Paola van der Veen was one of them.

Van der Veen became the fifth Ute to be named to the All-Freshman Team. She joined Avery Jenkins (2011), Lindsey Luke (2012), Katie Rogers (2013) and Mariah Elmer (2014). In her first season playing collegiate soccer, Van der Veen paced Utah with five assists and finished second on the team in scoring. A veteran of the Dutch youth national teams, Van der Veen suited up for ADO den Haag prior to her arrival in Salt Lake City.

Manning Makes History
With a victory over Oregon State last year, Rich Manning earned his 150th career win at Utah. During his tenure, Manning has established Utah soccer as an elite program in the west.

Manning has coached the Utes to an NCAA Tournament berth in six of his years at the helm. Prior to joining the Pac-12, Manning directed Utah to three Mountain West Conference regular-season championships (2003, `05, `06) and a pair of league tournament titles (2003, `04).

Utah Success in the Classroom
Ten members of the Utah soccer team earned Pac-12 Conference academic honors in 2015. Katie Rogers was honored for a third-straight year while Taylor Slattery and Cabria Turang earned awards for a second-straight season. Listed below are the returning award winners.

Utah's Second Team honoree:
Janie Kearl, 3.81, Exercise and Sport Science

Utah's Honorable Mention honorees:
Mikayla Elmer, Business Administration
Katie Rogers, Exercise and Sport Science
Taylor Slattery, Human Development and Family Studies
Cabria Turang, Human Development and Family Studies
Natalie Vukic, Graphic Design

Since joining the Pac-12 in 2011, Utah women's soccer has had 57 players earn academic honors from the conference, including 10 student-athletes last season. In order to earn All-Academic status, student-athletes must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and either be a starter or significant contributor.

Season Ticket Scarves
Season tickets are $10 and come with a Utah Soccer Scarf. Your scarf serves as your season ticket and will get you admission to all home games. All seating is general admission. To get your 2016 season ticket scarf, visit http://utahtickets.com/soccer/#single-games or call 801-581-UTIX.

Upcoming Events

Recent Results

Players Mentioned

Ella Ballstaedt

Haylee Cacciacarne

Holly Daugirda

Ireland Dunn

Mariah Elmer

Mikayla Elmer

Kristin Fairbairn

Aleea Gwerder

Eden Jacobsen

Isabel Jones

Janie Kearl

Natalie Kump

Tavia Leachman

Lindsey Luke

July Mathias

Carly Nelson

Katie Rogers

Hailey Skolmoski

Taylor Slattery

Cabria Turang

Paola van der Veen

Natalie Vukic

Natalee Wells

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