Utes Match School Mark in 9-0 Win

Sunday, August 27

Salt Lake City, Utah

1:00 PM

University of Utah

3-0-0

North Dakota State

0-4-0

North Dakota State

Utah

8/27/2017 4:57 PM | Soccer

Box Score Final Box

Skolmoski also matches Utah mark for goals scored in a game

SALT LAKE CITY - SALT LAKE CITY - No. 18 Utah Soccer matched the school record for goals in a match during a 9-0 victory over North Dakota State this afternoon. Hailey Skolmoski also tied the single-game scoring mark with four goals of her own.

"It was great to see the team improve in areas we identified after Thursday's game," head coach Rich Manning said. "I thought our patience and precision in front of goal and in the attacking end was really good. A lot of players got a chance to play and the quality and energy we played with today was excellent."

For the Utes, the nine goals scored were the most since a victory vs. Illinois State in 1996. The 11 assists and 29 points for the squad also surpassed the previous marks set during a 2001 contest vs. Wyoming.

Skolmoski had three goals within the first 16 minutes of the match, giving her the 11th hat trick in Utah history and first since Lauren Field vs. Baylor in 2003. The junior forward netted her fourth after being on the field for 15 minutes of the second half.

Her four goals and nine points matched Amy Kofoed's program marks set during that '01 contest with the Cowgirls. Skolmoski now has 20 goals for her career, six away from fifth place all-time at Utah.

Utah started scoring in the fourth minute when Paola van der Veen was able to find Skolmoski, who spun away from her defender before firing a low shot into the left corner of the goal.

Eden Jacobsen notched her first assist of the season on the second goal, releasing Holly Daugirda down the right side. The sophomore dribbled to the end line and found Skolmoski for an easy tap in at the back post.

In the 11th minute, Van der Veen found Natalie Vukic on a run down the middle and she scored her second goal of the season for a 3-0 lead. The final goal of the half started when Tatum Thornton played a ball in the middle of the pitch to Holly Daugirda. The sophomore midfielder found a cutting Skolmoski who bent her run to the right and chipped the keeper from close range for her third goal of the day.

It was more of the same in the second half as a NDSU foul created a free-kick opportunity just outside the penalty area. Aleea Gwerder stepped up and smacked her first goal as a Ute into the top of the net.

"We played really well in every area, obviously scoring nine goals, but also able to keep a shutout for a second game in a row," Gwerder added. "Offensively, I think we knew we had to do a better job of attacking space in the final third and then converting opportunities that we missed out on during Thursday's game."

Van der Veen went from provider to scorer in the second half, collecting a Skolmoski thru ball in the 65th minute and scoring right down the middle. Then Van der Veen brought in a pass from Lulu Borges and beat her defender off the dribble, lashing a shot past the NDSU goalkeeper for her second goal in as many minutes.

Skolmoski matched the single-game mark when she was the beneficiary of another tap in during the 77th minute. Cameron Tingey fed Vukic a pass up the left side and the senior cut inside her defender and raced to the end line before drawing the keeper out and allowing Skolmoski to prod home her fourth of the match. It was Tingey's first point as a Ute.

The ninth and final goal was scored by Ella Ballstaedt, her first of the season. The sophomore drove in from the right and beat the keeper to her near side after receiving a pass from Ireland Dunn. For Dunn, it was her first collegiate point.

The Utes hit the road for the first time this season with a Friday contest at Loyola Marymount. Kick-off is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. PT