No. 25 Utah Stops Kansas, 2-1

Friday, September 15

Salt Lake City, Utah

7:00 PM

University of Utah

5-2-1

Kansas

5-3-1

Kansas

Utah

9/15/2017 9:54 PM | Soccer

Box Score Final Box

Cacciacarne and Skolmoski get goals for Utes

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Soccer (5-2-1) got early goals from Haylee Cacciacarne and Hailey Skolmoski to close the non-conference portion of its schedule with a 2-1 victory over Kansas (5-3-1).

"I am very proud of the team tonight," head coach Rich Manning said. "We put in a gutsy performance and got a really big win against a good Kansas team. I thought we defended with incredible commitment in front of goal and Carly Nelson had a fantastic performance."

The Utes broke through in the 18^th minute. Off a corner, Skolmoski headed a try against the post and the rebound was cleared out to Eden Jacobsen. The junior fired the ball back into the box and Lulu Borges headed it downward, which allowed Cacciacarne to pounce for her first goal of the season.

The pressure remained applied as Skolmoski had a try saved and Holly Daugirda fired wide. It paid off in the 32^nd minute as Utah doubled its lead. Natalee Wells fired in a free kick and Cacciacarne nodded on to Skolmoski at the right post for a tap in.

It was the junior's seventh goal of the season and for Cacciacarne, it was her fifth assist. Both totals pace the team.

"It was something we had been practicing on and through repetition, we finally got it right," Wells stated. "This was an awesome game and to win our last non-conference game gives us a lot of confidence for Pac-12 play."

Kansas started growing into the game after that point, forcing a pair of saves from Nelson who finished with a season-high seven stops.
In the second half, Utah had chances to add to its lead as Aleea Gwerder had a try blocked and Borges headed over the bar. Skolmoski then had a try knocked away by the Kansas keeper.

Nelson came up big down the stretch, stopping three tries in the a six-minute span. At the other end, Skolmoski got free on the counter but was stopped in the 70^th minute. Another save by Nelson in the 82^nd minute led to another quick attack the other way and Skolmoski pinged a header off the crossbar

Kansas got a glimmer of hope in the 88^th minute when Utah was called for a hand ball in the box and Grace Hagan calmly scored the penalty kick.

"The past three weeks have been a big test for us and it was great to see the players give it everything they had," Manning added. "We have learned a lot and this stretch has prepared us for Pac-12 play."

The Utes return to action next Saturday with their Pac-12 opener against the reigning national champions USC. Kick-off will be at 2 p.m. and it will be a Utah Red Out.