Upcoming Event: Soccer at TCU on September 19, 2025 at 6 p.m.
6 p.m.
Soccer
at TCU
Thursday, October 5
Salt Lake City, UT
6:00 PM
University of Utah
5-3-5, 1-1-2
1
vs
1
California
5-3-4, 2-0-2
1
2
F
California
0
1
1
Utah
0
1
1
Team Stats
Cal
Utah
Goals
1
1
Shots
5
12
Shots on Goal
3
7
Saves
6
2
Corners
3
3
Fouls
11
5
Scoring Plays
Abby Borchers (2)
Assisted By: Skylar Briggs , Anysa Gray
GOAL by Cal Borchers, Abby Assist by Briggs, Skylar and Gray, Anysa.
73:48
Katie O'Kane (6)
Utah Katie O'Kane PENALTY KICK GOAL.
87:04
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
Midfielder
/ SoccerForward
/ SoccerForward
/ SoccerFOR
/ Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Soccer
O’Kane Scores Again as Utah Soccer Draws with California
10/5/2023 10:14 PM | Soccer
Senior’s team-high seventh goal comes in 1-1 stalemate
SALT LAKE CITY – Katie O'Kane picked up her team-high seventh goal of 2023 and the University of Utah women's soccer team battled for 90 minutes before the final whistle blew on a 1-1 draw with the California Golden Bears on Thursday night in a Pac-12 Conference contest at Ute Field in Salt Lake City.
This tie puts the Utes' 2023 ledger at 5-3-5 and 1-1-2 in league action, while Cal is now 5-3-4 and 2-0-2 in conference.
"I felt tonight was very much a winnable match based on how we played," said head coach Hideki Nakada, "so it was disappointing not to get three points. Despite that, considering the circumstances we found ourselves in late in the second half, I am proud of our team for continue to push and finding a way to salvage a point.
"I thought we had some great moments offensively and created quality opportunities, but obviously we weren't able to take full advantage. On the flip side, we were able to limit Cal to only five shots which is a positive but we needed to be better in those moments to keep them off the scoreboard. I'm really looking forward to Sunday against a great Stanford team at home."
Both back lines were on point in a scoreless first period, with the Utes holding their guests without a shot for nearly 40 minutes, while Utah's two on-target efforts were both saved by California's Teagan Wy. Cal's best chance to score came in the 44th minute, but Lizzie Vranesh's shot from 20 yards out was parried away by Evelyn Vitali.
Both teams applied more pressure in the second half, starting with a Kelly Bullock volley that was saved in the 53rd minute, then Courtney Brown tried her luck moments later, ripping a shot towards the net from 20 yards out, only for it to hit off the top bar. The home team put three more efforts on frame in a 10-minute stretch starting in the 63rd minute, but still couldn't break the ice.
It ended up being the Bears who went on top first in the 74th minute, getting on the board courtesy of an Abby Borchers header off a cross from Skylar Briggs. That score left the Utes with just over 16 minutes to find an equalizer.
California didn't allow the Utes to put a single shot on goal after taking the lead until Kennedy Schoennauer was fouled in the box in the 88th minute. That infraction by Kylie Kerr put O'Kane at the penalty spot and the senior's perfectly aimed strike into the top right corner of the goal knotted the score at one. Despite a late score threat by the Bears, that score was still intact at the final whistle.
For O'Kane, her seven scores are tied for the second-most in the Pac-12 and she's the first Ute to reach that total in a season since Paola Van der Veen got on the scoresheet seven times in 2018. The Seattle, Washington native is also tied for third in the league with 15 points.
The Utes ended the evening with a 12-7 edge in shots and they also led in tries on goal, 7-3, marking the third straight fixture Utah has topped their opponent in both categories. Schoennauer posted the team's highest mark in both statistics, with three total tries, two of which were on frame. In goal, Evelyn Vitali collected two saves.
Up Next
The Utes will be back at home on Sunday, when they're scheduled to host the No. 3 Stanford Cardinal at 1 p.m.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @UtahWSoccer | Instagram: @UtahWSoccer | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utahwsoccer).
This tie puts the Utes' 2023 ledger at 5-3-5 and 1-1-2 in league action, while Cal is now 5-3-4 and 2-0-2 in conference.
"I felt tonight was very much a winnable match based on how we played," said head coach Hideki Nakada, "so it was disappointing not to get three points. Despite that, considering the circumstances we found ourselves in late in the second half, I am proud of our team for continue to push and finding a way to salvage a point.
"I thought we had some great moments offensively and created quality opportunities, but obviously we weren't able to take full advantage. On the flip side, we were able to limit Cal to only five shots which is a positive but we needed to be better in those moments to keep them off the scoreboard. I'm really looking forward to Sunday against a great Stanford team at home."
Both back lines were on point in a scoreless first period, with the Utes holding their guests without a shot for nearly 40 minutes, while Utah's two on-target efforts were both saved by California's Teagan Wy. Cal's best chance to score came in the 44th minute, but Lizzie Vranesh's shot from 20 yards out was parried away by Evelyn Vitali.
Both teams applied more pressure in the second half, starting with a Kelly Bullock volley that was saved in the 53rd minute, then Courtney Brown tried her luck moments later, ripping a shot towards the net from 20 yards out, only for it to hit off the top bar. The home team put three more efforts on frame in a 10-minute stretch starting in the 63rd minute, but still couldn't break the ice.
It ended up being the Bears who went on top first in the 74th minute, getting on the board courtesy of an Abby Borchers header off a cross from Skylar Briggs. That score left the Utes with just over 16 minutes to find an equalizer.
California didn't allow the Utes to put a single shot on goal after taking the lead until Kennedy Schoennauer was fouled in the box in the 88th minute. That infraction by Kylie Kerr put O'Kane at the penalty spot and the senior's perfectly aimed strike into the top right corner of the goal knotted the score at one. Despite a late score threat by the Bears, that score was still intact at the final whistle.
For O'Kane, her seven scores are tied for the second-most in the Pac-12 and she's the first Ute to reach that total in a season since Paola Van der Veen got on the scoresheet seven times in 2018. The Seattle, Washington native is also tied for third in the league with 15 points.
The Utes ended the evening with a 12-7 edge in shots and they also led in tries on goal, 7-3, marking the third straight fixture Utah has topped their opponent in both categories. Schoennauer posted the team's highest mark in both statistics, with three total tries, two of which were on frame. In goal, Evelyn Vitali collected two saves.
Up Next
The Utes will be back at home on Sunday, when they're scheduled to host the No. 3 Stanford Cardinal at 1 p.m.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @UtahWSoccer | Instagram: @UtahWSoccer | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utahwsoccer).
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