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University of Utah
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UC Irvine
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UC Irvine
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Photo by: Steve C. Wilson
Christensen Captures 1-1 Road Draw at UCI
8/26/2018 4:35 PM | Soccer
Freshman's first goal gets Utes road result
IRVINE, Calif. -Â Makayla Christensen scored in the 84th minute to cancel out an early UC Irvine penalty kick and Utah earned a 1-1 double-overtime draw on the road this afternoon.
 "This was a really gritty road performance," head coach Rich Manning said. "We fought uphill the whole second half and overcame some early adversity with the penalty kick. Once they scored their goal, we got on top of the game and were able to get even."
"Getting the goal at the end was really uplifting," Christensen said. "The season is young. We can learn from these experiences and build as we get games under our belt. We grew as a team today."
With time running out on the Utes, Christensen beat her defender and fired a shot inside the right post to tie the game. It was a first collegiate goal for Idaho's 2017-18 Gatorade Player of the Year.
"I ran in behind and got a bouncing ball over the top from Alexis Rushlow. It is the beginning and I am just hoping to build off this. The grind never ends."
"Demi Lopez played me the ball out wide and I saw Makayla check into the available space," Rushlow stated. "I just played the ball first time in the air so she could take her touch around the defender. I knew I had to play it quickly so she had time to turn her."
An unfortunate set of circumstances put Utah behind in the early going as a long throw into the box created some jostling for position. UCI was awarded a penalty kick when a Ute player was pushed into the ball and struck it with her hand. Kala McDaniel stepped up and put the Anteaters ahead 1-0 with her first collegiate goal.
Holly Daugirda had Utah's first chance of the game, sending her try wide of goal. Maddie Newsome scooped up Hailey Skolmoski's attempt in the 33rd minute and seconds later, Tatum Thornton had a header loop over the bar.
The Utes ramped up the pressure in the second half as Jessica Hixson smacked a volley over the bar and Paola van der Veen got free on a break, got around the keeper, but saw her cross cleared away by an Anteater defender. Hailey Stodden also had an attempt before the hour mark that was deflected straight to the goalkeeper.
Hixson had another look in the 66th minute, charging in on goal but sending a hopping try wide to the left. Van der Veen blistered a free kick six minutes later but it sailed right to Newsom. After scoring, Christensen had a chance at a winner in the closing seconds, but her header was denied.
The first overtime period belonged to Carly Nelson. The junior goalkeeper made three of her saves to keep the contest tied. In the second stanza, it was Van der Veen and Hixson again creating opportunities. The senior's shot from 15 yards out prompted a diving save from Newsom and Hixson had the last chance, sending her chance over the goal.
"We knew UCI was a tough defensive team after limiting USC and Arizona to one goal apiece," Manning added. "I thought we were able to create some really good looks and Makayla created the goal herself. Defensively, Alexis suited up for the first time and put in a solid second half."
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"I think the biggest thing was that we kept our composure," Lopez stated. "Things were a little frantic but we kept doing what we needed to, which was keep the ball and not kick it up the field aimlessly. After Makayla scored, we continued to maintain possession and I think that was important, staying composed, but not relaxing."
"I thought we played really well and were solid, but this was my first game with them," Rushlow commented. "I was really happy with our togetherness. I am really excited to see how much we improve going from one game to the next."
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NOTES: The Utes have lost just once in 10 road trips to Big West foes … Utah is now 1-0-1 all-time vs. UC Irvine … UC Irvine entered today's contest ranked No. 3 in the West Region by the United Soccer Coaches … Utah has not lost an overtime game since the finale to the 2013 season, 1-0 at No. 13 Texas A&M in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, a string of 21 games (5-0-16) … Utah has finished tied in its last four overtime appearances … Utah plays at No. 18 Kansas on Friday with kickoff at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN+
 "This was a really gritty road performance," head coach Rich Manning said. "We fought uphill the whole second half and overcame some early adversity with the penalty kick. Once they scored their goal, we got on top of the game and were able to get even."
"Getting the goal at the end was really uplifting," Christensen said. "The season is young. We can learn from these experiences and build as we get games under our belt. We grew as a team today."
With time running out on the Utes, Christensen beat her defender and fired a shot inside the right post to tie the game. It was a first collegiate goal for Idaho's 2017-18 Gatorade Player of the Year.
"I ran in behind and got a bouncing ball over the top from Alexis Rushlow. It is the beginning and I am just hoping to build off this. The grind never ends."
"Demi Lopez played me the ball out wide and I saw Makayla check into the available space," Rushlow stated. "I just played the ball first time in the air so she could take her touch around the defender. I knew I had to play it quickly so she had time to turn her."
An unfortunate set of circumstances put Utah behind in the early going as a long throw into the box created some jostling for position. UCI was awarded a penalty kick when a Ute player was pushed into the ball and struck it with her hand. Kala McDaniel stepped up and put the Anteaters ahead 1-0 with her first collegiate goal.
Holly Daugirda had Utah's first chance of the game, sending her try wide of goal. Maddie Newsome scooped up Hailey Skolmoski's attempt in the 33rd minute and seconds later, Tatum Thornton had a header loop over the bar.
The Utes ramped up the pressure in the second half as Jessica Hixson smacked a volley over the bar and Paola van der Veen got free on a break, got around the keeper, but saw her cross cleared away by an Anteater defender. Hailey Stodden also had an attempt before the hour mark that was deflected straight to the goalkeeper.
Hixson had another look in the 66th minute, charging in on goal but sending a hopping try wide to the left. Van der Veen blistered a free kick six minutes later but it sailed right to Newsom. After scoring, Christensen had a chance at a winner in the closing seconds, but her header was denied.
The first overtime period belonged to Carly Nelson. The junior goalkeeper made three of her saves to keep the contest tied. In the second stanza, it was Van der Veen and Hixson again creating opportunities. The senior's shot from 15 yards out prompted a diving save from Newsom and Hixson had the last chance, sending her chance over the goal.
"We knew UCI was a tough defensive team after limiting USC and Arizona to one goal apiece," Manning added. "I thought we were able to create some really good looks and Makayla created the goal herself. Defensively, Alexis suited up for the first time and put in a solid second half."
Â
"I think the biggest thing was that we kept our composure," Lopez stated. "Things were a little frantic but we kept doing what we needed to, which was keep the ball and not kick it up the field aimlessly. After Makayla scored, we continued to maintain possession and I think that was important, staying composed, but not relaxing."
"I thought we played really well and were solid, but this was my first game with them," Rushlow commented. "I was really happy with our togetherness. I am really excited to see how much we improve going from one game to the next."
Â
NOTES: The Utes have lost just once in 10 road trips to Big West foes … Utah is now 1-0-1 all-time vs. UC Irvine … UC Irvine entered today's contest ranked No. 3 in the West Region by the United Soccer Coaches … Utah has not lost an overtime game since the finale to the 2013 season, 1-0 at No. 13 Texas A&M in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, a string of 21 games (5-0-16) … Utah has finished tied in its last four overtime appearances … Utah plays at No. 18 Kansas on Friday with kickoff at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN+
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Team Stats
UTAH
UCI
Goals
1
1
Shots
13
9
Shots on Goal
7
5
Saves
4
6
Corners
1
2
Fouls
6
15
Scoring Plays
McDaniel, Kala (1)
UCI McDaniel, Kala PENALTY KICK GOAL, goal number 1 for season.
19:09
CHRISTENSEN, Makayla (1)
Assisted By: RUSHLOW, Alexis
10 steals in attacking third, feeds 00,
83:53
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
3
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
Utah Soccer's Ali Swensen - ESPN+ Feature
Saturday, September 27
Utah 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