Upcoming Event: Soccer versus West Virginia on September 27, 2025 at 6 p.m.
6 p.m.
Soccer
vs West Virginia
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Thursday, August 17
Raleigh, NC
5:00 PM
University of Utah
0-0-1, 0-0-0
1
at
1
North Carolina State
0-0-1, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Utah
0
1
1
NC State
0
1
1
Team Stats
Utah
NCSU
Goals
1
1
Shots
14
12
Shots on Goal
6
5
Saves
4
5
Corners
4
4
Fouls
10
6
Scoring Plays
Jade Bordeleau (1)
Assisted By: Leyah Hall-Robinson
GOAL by NCSU Bordeleau, Jade Assist by Hall-Robinson, Leyah.
46:05
Bella Woods (1)
GOAL by Utah Woods, Bella.
72:34
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
MID
/ SoccerForward
/ SoccerForward
/ Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ SoccerMID
/ Soccer
Photo by: Hunter Dyke/Utah Athletics
Woods, Wardle Help Utah Soccer Earn 1-1 Draw with Wolfpack
8/17/2023 8:39 PM | Soccer
Utes outshoot their hosts 14-12 in 2023 opener
SALT LAKE CITY – Bella Woods registered the first goal of her Utah career and Kasey Wardle collected four saves, three of which came in the second half, as the University of Utah women's soccer team began the 2023 season with a 1-1 draw against the N.C. State Wolfpack on Thursday evening at the Dail Soccer Field/Track Complex in Raleigh, N.C.
This makes back-to-back seasons in which the Utes have started the year by erasing a deficit to earn a tie on the road.
"We played brilliantly to start the match," said head coach Hideki Nakada, "and I felt we controlled and dominated the first 45 minutes, but unfortunately we weren't able to reward ourselves by putting away those chances we created. We made a simple mistake early in the second half to put ourselves in the hole, but I am really proud of our Utes for finding a way to get back in the game."
The Utes controlled the pace of play for most of the first half and outshot their guests, 7-2, over the first 45 minutes. Katie O'Kane nearly put the visitors on the board in the first minute, but her shot from inside the 18 found the outside of the goal. Lilliah Blum sent in Utah's first shot on goal in the seventh minute, but the Wolfpack's Maria Echezarreta came up with a save to keep the contest scoreless.
Utah continued to put pressure on N.C. State's defense, collecting three more shots on frame in the first half, but none of them found the mark. By contrast, Wardle was only tested once in the opening period and her denial in the 32nd minute ensured the match headed to the break even.
The home team quickly applied pressure at the start of the second half and it paid off in the form of the night's first goal, when a Leyah Hall-Robinson cross was redirected into the net by Jade Bordeleau. N.C. State tried to add to its lead moments later, but another Wardle save in the 54th minute kept the score frozen.
In the 73rd minute, the Utes' efforts on offense finally paid off when Woods sent a right-footed rocket past Echezarreta and into the left corner of the net from 25 yards out to knot up the score. The initial tally in Woods' collegiate career also marked the first time since 2007 Utah's season-opening goal was recorded by a freshman.
Each side had chances to break the deadlock over the final 17 minutes, but both keepers kept the nets empty. A close-in shot from Taliana Kaufusi two minutes after Woods' goal was saved and would prove to be Utah's final on-target attempt of the evening. In the 79th minute, the Wolfpack nearly pocketed the winner off a corner kick, but a brilliant stop from Wardle on a Brianna Weber header prevented the home side from moving back in front. Wardle only needed to halt one more shot to keep the score level until the final whistle.
"NC State is a quality team," said Nakada, "and this certainly is a solid result on the road, but I felt this was a game we should have won. That said, there are many positives to take away from our first game of the season and we are looking forward to Sunday's matchup in Charleston."
Up Next
The Utes will be back on the pitch on Sunday, when they face the College of Charleston Cougars at 11 a.m. MT.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @UtahWSoccer | Instagram: @UtahWSoccer | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utahwsoccer).
This makes back-to-back seasons in which the Utes have started the year by erasing a deficit to earn a tie on the road.
"We played brilliantly to start the match," said head coach Hideki Nakada, "and I felt we controlled and dominated the first 45 minutes, but unfortunately we weren't able to reward ourselves by putting away those chances we created. We made a simple mistake early in the second half to put ourselves in the hole, but I am really proud of our Utes for finding a way to get back in the game."
The Utes controlled the pace of play for most of the first half and outshot their guests, 7-2, over the first 45 minutes. Katie O'Kane nearly put the visitors on the board in the first minute, but her shot from inside the 18 found the outside of the goal. Lilliah Blum sent in Utah's first shot on goal in the seventh minute, but the Wolfpack's Maria Echezarreta came up with a save to keep the contest scoreless.
Utah continued to put pressure on N.C. State's defense, collecting three more shots on frame in the first half, but none of them found the mark. By contrast, Wardle was only tested once in the opening period and her denial in the 32nd minute ensured the match headed to the break even.
The home team quickly applied pressure at the start of the second half and it paid off in the form of the night's first goal, when a Leyah Hall-Robinson cross was redirected into the net by Jade Bordeleau. N.C. State tried to add to its lead moments later, but another Wardle save in the 54th minute kept the score frozen.
In the 73rd minute, the Utes' efforts on offense finally paid off when Woods sent a right-footed rocket past Echezarreta and into the left corner of the net from 25 yards out to knot up the score. The initial tally in Woods' collegiate career also marked the first time since 2007 Utah's season-opening goal was recorded by a freshman.
Each side had chances to break the deadlock over the final 17 minutes, but both keepers kept the nets empty. A close-in shot from Taliana Kaufusi two minutes after Woods' goal was saved and would prove to be Utah's final on-target attempt of the evening. In the 79th minute, the Wolfpack nearly pocketed the winner off a corner kick, but a brilliant stop from Wardle on a Brianna Weber header prevented the home side from moving back in front. Wardle only needed to halt one more shot to keep the score level until the final whistle.
"NC State is a quality team," said Nakada, "and this certainly is a solid result on the road, but I felt this was a game we should have won. That said, there are many positives to take away from our first game of the season and we are looking forward to Sunday's matchup in Charleston."
Up Next
The Utes will be back on the pitch on Sunday, when they face the College of Charleston Cougars at 11 a.m. MT.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @UtahWSoccer | Instagram: @UtahWSoccer | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utahwsoccer).
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