Utes Get Exhibition Win over Idaho, 1-0

Friday, August 10

Salt Lake City, UT

7:00 PM

University of Utah

Idaho

IDAHO

Utah

Photo by: Steve C. Wilson

8/10/2018 11:26 PM | Soccer

Box Score

Van der Veen nets winner for Utah

SALT LAKE CITY – Paola van der Veen scored an early goal, the only offense Utah Soccer needed this evening, as it defeated Idaho in an exhibition, 1-0.

"We accomplished a lot of good things tonight," head coach Rich Manning said. "It was great to be back at Ute Field."

Van der Veen's goal came in the 22^nd minute and proved to be the difference. Haylee Cacciacarne was first to react on a short goal kick and headed the ball forward, into the Idaho offensive half. Hailey Skolmoski was able to flick it on with her head to Van der Veen, who lobbed a try over the onrushing Idaho keeper.

Paola van der Veen gets @UtahWSoccer on the board!#Relentless pic.twitter.com/X2AWxA2tt6
— Utah Women's Soccer (@UtahWSoccer) August 11, 2018

Utah racked up 23 shots to Idaho's six, limiting the Vandals to just one try over the final 45 minutes. The Utes also mustered seven corner-kick opportunities.

"We can play faster with the ball and be cleaner in our finishing, those are two areas we can work on," added Manning.

Carly Nelson played the first half for Utah while SJ Edwards was in goal for the second stanza. The two net-minders combined to make four saves for the Utes.

"We had some new faces get some quality time and now we will prepare for next week."

Demi Lopez, who missed all of last season with an injury, and freshman Hailey Stodden, were two of those new faces, as both started for Utah. In total, eight players who either were new to the team this season or did not play last year, saw the field this evening.

Another promising sign was the return of defenders Tavia Leachman and Aleea Gwerder to full health. Leachman suffered an injury early last season and after earning All-Pac-12 honors as a freshman in 2016, never got back to 100 percent. Gwerder was another key contributor from 2016 that struggled with fitness in 2017. However, the junior played the most minutes of anyone this evening.

"It was really important to get off to a good start and keep the shutout tonight," Gwerder stated after the match. "Compared to last season, our fitness is better. We are in much better shape and getting the win tonight just gives us more confidence for the opener next week."

Utah begins the regular season next Friday vs. Minnesota at 7 p.m. The game can be seen live on the Pac-12 Mountain network.