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Friday, October 13
Los Angeles, CA
7:00 PM
University of Utah
at
UCLA
Utah Soccer to put Road Undefeated Streak on the Line at No. 5 UCLA
10/11/2023 2:20 PM | Soccer
Utes to take on a top-five opponent for third time in 2023
SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah women's soccer team has gone undefeated on the road through their first eight away matches, the longest such streak to start a season in program history, and they'll put that streak on the line on Friday, when they'll pay a visit to the No. 5 UCLA Bruins for a 6 p.m. PT (7 p.m. MT) tilt at Wallis Annenberg Stadium in Los Angeles.
Scouting UCLA
While the Utes have thrived on the road, the Bruins, who own an 11-1 record, have been unbeatable at home, where they've won their first six fixtures. Included in that unbeaten streak are wins in their last two conference contests by a combined margin of 10-0, as UCLA easily disposed of Oregon State and Oregon. The Bruins have only allowed a single goal on their home turf all season, which came in their 2-1 triumph over Cal Poly on Aug 24.
Only four teams in the nation have averaged more goals per game than UCLA and their mark of 3.0. Only BYU, which held the Bruins to a single score while handing them their only defeat so far in 2023, prevented UCLA from scoring multiple times. Through 12 matches, 14 different Bruins have gotten on the scoresheet, led by senior Reilyn Turner and her seven tallies. Turner has also logged five assists for a point total of 19 that ranks third in Pac-12.
In goal, coach Margueritte Aozasa has relied almost exclusively on sophomore Neeku Purcell. The Seattle, Washington native has rewarded her coach with the third-best goals against average in the conference and five clean sheets. The last team to put one past Purcell was Washington on Sept. 28. Since then, the Bruins have shutout three straight opponents.
All Time Against UCLA
In 14 previous matchups, UCLA has won 10 times, compared to two triumphs for Utah and a pair of draws. One of those ties came the last time the Utes visited the Bruins in 2021, as the sides fought to a 1-1 stalemate. Utah's last win in the series occurred in 2016, as Katie Rogers and Hailey Skolmoski found the back of the net in a 2-0 triumph.
Last Time Against UCLA
The Utes suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of UCLA at Ute Field in 2022 in Utah's final home match of the season. Lexi Wright, Sofia Cook and Ally Cook scored for the visitors, while the Utes managed nine total tries, with Luisa Delgado and Taliana Kaufusi each contributing a pair.
Racking Up Results on the Road
For the first time in program history, the Utes have gone undefeated through their first eight road fixtures. They kept that streak alive with a 4-2 win at Oregon on Oct. 1. The program's previous best start on the road involved four matches without a defeat.
Penalty Kickers
The Utes have earned seven penalty kicks so far in 2023, the most by a Utah team in a single season in program history. Utah's previous high was six, which they set in 2008. The only team that has taken more PKs so far in 2023 is UCLA with eight.
Another Top Five Test
The Bruins are the third team ranked inside the top five nationally the Utes have faced off with in 2023, having already locked horns with then-No. 1 BYU and No. 3 Stanford. Utah's last triumph over a top-five opponent came in 2003 at the expense of No. 2 Florida.
Looking at the Pac-12 Leaderboard
Katie O'Kane has continued to cement her status as one of the top scorers in the Pac-12, with her seven goals tying her for fourth and her 15 points have her sharing sixth. O'Kane also ranks third in the league in shots with 52.
Bullock's Early Breakthrough
Kelly Bullock put the Utes on the board in the third minute in what became a 5-0 trouncing of Utah Valley on Aug. 30. Bullock's score at the 2:21 mark goes down as the program's earliest goal since Natalie Vukic's tally 40 seconds into a match against Utah State in 2017.
First Half Fireworks
Utah's attack was also responsible for three first period tallies in their rout of the Wolverines. Those three first half scores represented their highest total in the opening 45 minutes since they scored four times in the first half against North Dakota State on Aug. 27, 2017.
Ring the Bella
Bella Woods tallied Utah's first goal of the season in the team's Aug. 17 meeting with N.C. State. That made her the first Utah freshman to register the program's season-opening score since Erin Dalley in 2007. Woods also picked up an assist in the Utes' win over College of Charleston.
NCAA Tournament History
The Utes are aiming to reach the NCAA Tournament for the ninth time in school history and the first time since 2019. Utah put together its best postseason finish in 2016, when they forged a path all the way to the Sweet 16.
By The Numbers
The list of players back in the fold for Hideki Nakada's club includes just about all of the team's statistical leaders from 2022. Taliana Kaufusi, who piled up a team-high six goals, is back for her senior campaign, while assist leader Ryann Cull has returned after collecting four helpers a season ago. Kaufusi also led the squad in shots in 2022 with 41, followed by fellow returners Katie O'Kane, who racked up 28, and Courtney Brown, who posted 26.
In goal, all four of Utah's keepers, Evelyn Vitali, Kasey Wardle, Megan Quiggle and Taylor Prigge, are back for another season. No one on the roster collected more saves than Vitali's 48 in 2022, while Wardle crafted a 0.70 goals against average. Utah's keepers combined to record seven shutouts a season ago.
Senior Six
Utah's six-person senior class is comprised of Courtney Brown, Brooke Hale, Katie O'Kane, Taliana Kaufusi, Megan Quiggle and Ragan Vanschalkwyk. This group has combined to take the field in over 200 matches for the Utes and Brown is the one player remaining from the 2019 squad that reached the NCAA Tournament.
New Utes
Utah's 2023 roster includes seven new faces and that list of newcomers is comprised of freshmen Kennedy Schoennauer, Lilliah Blum, Bella Woods, Rylan Park, Mia Becarevic and Izzy Smith and sophomore transfer Alex Schoenstadt.
Woods, Becarevic and Smith were all part of an Alta High School squad that made a run to the state playoffs in 2022, while Schoennauer helped her squad capture the CCA Division II Championship, Blum was named her conference's player of the year and Park was an all-league selection.
Schoenstadt played her freshman season with Ole Miss and helped the Rebels achieve a winning record, as well as record nine clean sheets.
Pac-12 Preseason Coaches Poll
The Pac-12 released its preseason coaches poll on Aug. 14 and the UCLA Bruins garnered nine first place votes and landed in the top spot in the poll. The Utes were ranked 10th.
2023 Season Tickets
Season tickets for the 2023 season are now available. Fans can purchase season tickets for $35.00 by calling the Utah ticket office at 801-581-UTIX or visit www.utahtickets.com. Utah soccer team scarfs available as a $10.00 add-on.
Up Next
After Utah's homestand, they'll travel to UCLA for a 7 p.m. match on Oct. 13.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @UtahWSoccer | Instagram: @UtahWSoccer | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utahwsoccer).
| FRIDAY'S MATCHUP Date | Time: Friday, Oct. 13 | 7:00 p.m. Utah (5-4-5) at UCLA (11-1) Location: Los Angeles, Calif. | Wallis Annenberg Stadium Live Stats: Click Here Live Stream: Click Here Twitter Updates: @UtahWSoccer |
Scouting UCLA
While the Utes have thrived on the road, the Bruins, who own an 11-1 record, have been unbeatable at home, where they've won their first six fixtures. Included in that unbeaten streak are wins in their last two conference contests by a combined margin of 10-0, as UCLA easily disposed of Oregon State and Oregon. The Bruins have only allowed a single goal on their home turf all season, which came in their 2-1 triumph over Cal Poly on Aug 24.
Only four teams in the nation have averaged more goals per game than UCLA and their mark of 3.0. Only BYU, which held the Bruins to a single score while handing them their only defeat so far in 2023, prevented UCLA from scoring multiple times. Through 12 matches, 14 different Bruins have gotten on the scoresheet, led by senior Reilyn Turner and her seven tallies. Turner has also logged five assists for a point total of 19 that ranks third in Pac-12.
In goal, coach Margueritte Aozasa has relied almost exclusively on sophomore Neeku Purcell. The Seattle, Washington native has rewarded her coach with the third-best goals against average in the conference and five clean sheets. The last team to put one past Purcell was Washington on Sept. 28. Since then, the Bruins have shutout three straight opponents.
All Time Against UCLA
In 14 previous matchups, UCLA has won 10 times, compared to two triumphs for Utah and a pair of draws. One of those ties came the last time the Utes visited the Bruins in 2021, as the sides fought to a 1-1 stalemate. Utah's last win in the series occurred in 2016, as Katie Rogers and Hailey Skolmoski found the back of the net in a 2-0 triumph.
Last Time Against UCLA
The Utes suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of UCLA at Ute Field in 2022 in Utah's final home match of the season. Lexi Wright, Sofia Cook and Ally Cook scored for the visitors, while the Utes managed nine total tries, with Luisa Delgado and Taliana Kaufusi each contributing a pair.
Racking Up Results on the Road
For the first time in program history, the Utes have gone undefeated through their first eight road fixtures. They kept that streak alive with a 4-2 win at Oregon on Oct. 1. The program's previous best start on the road involved four matches without a defeat.
Penalty Kickers
The Utes have earned seven penalty kicks so far in 2023, the most by a Utah team in a single season in program history. Utah's previous high was six, which they set in 2008. The only team that has taken more PKs so far in 2023 is UCLA with eight.
Another Top Five Test
The Bruins are the third team ranked inside the top five nationally the Utes have faced off with in 2023, having already locked horns with then-No. 1 BYU and No. 3 Stanford. Utah's last triumph over a top-five opponent came in 2003 at the expense of No. 2 Florida.
Looking at the Pac-12 Leaderboard
Katie O'Kane has continued to cement her status as one of the top scorers in the Pac-12, with her seven goals tying her for fourth and her 15 points have her sharing sixth. O'Kane also ranks third in the league in shots with 52.
Bullock's Early Breakthrough
Kelly Bullock put the Utes on the board in the third minute in what became a 5-0 trouncing of Utah Valley on Aug. 30. Bullock's score at the 2:21 mark goes down as the program's earliest goal since Natalie Vukic's tally 40 seconds into a match against Utah State in 2017.
First Half Fireworks
Utah's attack was also responsible for three first period tallies in their rout of the Wolverines. Those three first half scores represented their highest total in the opening 45 minutes since they scored four times in the first half against North Dakota State on Aug. 27, 2017.
Ring the Bella
Bella Woods tallied Utah's first goal of the season in the team's Aug. 17 meeting with N.C. State. That made her the first Utah freshman to register the program's season-opening score since Erin Dalley in 2007. Woods also picked up an assist in the Utes' win over College of Charleston.
NCAA Tournament History
The Utes are aiming to reach the NCAA Tournament for the ninth time in school history and the first time since 2019. Utah put together its best postseason finish in 2016, when they forged a path all the way to the Sweet 16.
By The Numbers
The list of players back in the fold for Hideki Nakada's club includes just about all of the team's statistical leaders from 2022. Taliana Kaufusi, who piled up a team-high six goals, is back for her senior campaign, while assist leader Ryann Cull has returned after collecting four helpers a season ago. Kaufusi also led the squad in shots in 2022 with 41, followed by fellow returners Katie O'Kane, who racked up 28, and Courtney Brown, who posted 26.
In goal, all four of Utah's keepers, Evelyn Vitali, Kasey Wardle, Megan Quiggle and Taylor Prigge, are back for another season. No one on the roster collected more saves than Vitali's 48 in 2022, while Wardle crafted a 0.70 goals against average. Utah's keepers combined to record seven shutouts a season ago.
Senior Six
Utah's six-person senior class is comprised of Courtney Brown, Brooke Hale, Katie O'Kane, Taliana Kaufusi, Megan Quiggle and Ragan Vanschalkwyk. This group has combined to take the field in over 200 matches for the Utes and Brown is the one player remaining from the 2019 squad that reached the NCAA Tournament.
New Utes
Utah's 2023 roster includes seven new faces and that list of newcomers is comprised of freshmen Kennedy Schoennauer, Lilliah Blum, Bella Woods, Rylan Park, Mia Becarevic and Izzy Smith and sophomore transfer Alex Schoenstadt.
Woods, Becarevic and Smith were all part of an Alta High School squad that made a run to the state playoffs in 2022, while Schoennauer helped her squad capture the CCA Division II Championship, Blum was named her conference's player of the year and Park was an all-league selection.
Schoenstadt played her freshman season with Ole Miss and helped the Rebels achieve a winning record, as well as record nine clean sheets.
Pac-12 Preseason Coaches Poll
The Pac-12 released its preseason coaches poll on Aug. 14 and the UCLA Bruins garnered nine first place votes and landed in the top spot in the poll. The Utes were ranked 10th.
2023 Season Tickets
Season tickets for the 2023 season are now available. Fans can purchase season tickets for $35.00 by calling the Utah ticket office at 801-581-UTIX or visit www.utahtickets.com. Utah soccer team scarfs available as a $10.00 add-on.
Up Next
After Utah's homestand, they'll travel to UCLA for a 7 p.m. match on Oct. 13.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @UtahWSoccer | Instagram: @UtahWSoccer | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utahwsoccer).
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Players Mentioned
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MID
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Forward
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Defender
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Midfielder
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Defender
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Forward
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Forward
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MID
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Goalkeeper
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Goalkeeper
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FOR
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FOR
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FOR
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Defender
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Goalkeeper
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Goalkeeper
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MID
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