EUGENE, Ore. – Katie O'Kane recorded the first hat trick by a Utah player in more than six years and the University of Utah women's soccer team outscored the Oregon Ducks, 4-2, on Sunday afternoon in Pac-12 Conference action at Pape Field in Eugene, Ore.
The Utes are now 5-3-4 in 2022 and 1-1-1 in the Pac-12, while the Ducks are 0-9-2 and 0-3 in conference.
"We put together a great attacking performance today," said head coach
Hideki Nakada, "and I am proud of our team for taking care of business on the road knowing how critical it was for us to get a result.
"We've been challenging our team to be more attacking minded, threatening, and taking chances in the final third and it was great to see us producing 60 shots between the last two games. Now our goal is to be cleaner in front of the goal and tighten things up defensively and if we can accomplish that, I like our chances for a tough challenge we have coming up next week."
Utah's offensive attack went to work quickly in a half in which they would establish a 16-6 advantage in total shots. A pair of early tries on goal were stopped, but in the 18th minute, O'Kane drew a foul in the box and the Utes were awarded a penalty kick. The senior's right-footed boot into the top-right corner of the net got the visitors on the scoresheet first.
That lead remained intact for more than 20 minutes until a Ryann Reynolds header sprung Kaitlyn Paculba on goal for the game-tying tally in the 40th minute. Despite a couple more on-target efforts from the Utes in final moments of the period, the score was still level at halftime.
The Utah offense immediately went back to putting pressure on the Ducks' defense to start the second half and, after three early shots were saved, the Utes eventually found the go-ahead score. This time it was
Kelly Bullock who was fouled inside the 18 and O'Kane again converted from the penalty spot, putting her side up 2-1 in the 59th minute.
In the 80th minute,
Lilliah Blum doubled Utah's lead with her first collegiate goal when a cross from
Alex Schoenstadt was deflected and landed at the feet of Blum, whose right-footed volley sailed out of the reach for the keeper and over the line for a 3-1 edge.
The Ducks fought back one more time, making the score 3-2 in the 83rd minute, but less than two minutes later, O'Kane iced the match by completing her hat trick. A pass from Blum sent Bullock on a run down the right side of the attacking zone and Bullock's cross was fired into the net by O'Kane for the final score of the afternoon. Blum and Bullock were both credited with assists, while O'Kane logged the school's first hat trick since Hailey Skolmoski rattled off four goals on Aug. 27, 2017.
Utah's 32 shots and 15 shots on goal were both season-highs, the latter being their highest total in a game since 2017, while the former represents their most since 2012. Defensively, the Utes held Oregon to only 12 total shots and
Kasey Wardle collected five saves.
Up Next
Utah's next opportunity will be on their home field, when they host California on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Ute Field.
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