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Thursday, September 14
Ogden, UT
7:00 PM
University of Utah
at
Weber State
Photo by: Eli Rehmer/Utah Athletics
Road Tilts Against Wildcats, Rams On Tap for Utah Soccer
9/12/2023 12:40 PM | Soccer
Utes close non-conference schedule by taking on Weber State, Colorado State
SALT LAKE CITY – The final two non-conference matches on the 2023 schedule for the University of Utah women's soccer team are fast approaching and both of them will take Hideki's Nakada's club away from home as Utes attempt to maintain their winning record ahead of the start of Pac-12 competition.
The first match of the week takes the Utes to Ogden, Utah on Thursday, where they'll face the Weber State Wildcats at Wildcat Soccer Field at 7 p.m., followed by a Sunday fixture against the Colorado State Rams at 1 p.m. at CSU Soccer Field in Fort Collins, Colo.
Scouting Weber State
Through six matches in 2023, a first victory has so far eluded the Wildcats, who will be playing at home for just second time on Thursday. In 2022, half of WSU's six wins came on their home pitch, including back-to-back triumphs to close the regular season. The Wildcats did post a 1-1 tie with Utah Valley in a home exhibition on Aug. 12, but suffered 2-0 defeat in their home opener at the hands of UNLV.
Sayler Schlosser has been the top offensive producer for Weber State so far in 2023, leading the team in goals and points and tying for the lead in shots. The sophomore from Sayler Schlosser scored twice against Gonzaga on Aug. 24 for the first two goals of her collegiate career. Among the players still looking for their first score of 2023 are 2022 All-Big Sky First-Team selections Morgan Furmaniak and Yira Yoggerst. Three different Wildcats have seen time in goal through six matches, each making two starts.
All Time Against Weber State
The Utah-Weber State series has included 16 meetings, with the first fixture occurring in 1996 and resulting in a 3-1 win for the Utes. The Wildcats took both of the next two contests, but Utah captured 11 of the 12 clashes after that, including the most recent matchup in Ogden, which occurred in 2018 and ended 2-0. The Utes will enter Thursday's match having won in Ogden six consecutive times.
Last Time Against Weber State
Herriman, Utah was the site of the most recent match between these programs in the spring of 2021, which ended in a 1-1 draw. A 57th minute goal from Haley Farrar erased an early deficit for the Utes and saves by SJ Edwards and Chelsea Peterson helped the score remain level through the remainder of regulation and both overtime periods.
Scouting Colorado State
One year after posting a 4-7-8 record, head coach Keeley Hagen has guided the Rams to a 5-0-1 mark and they'll be trying to keep that undefeated record intact against Utah Tech on Thursday before meeting the Utes on Sunday. Each of CSU's last four wins have come by a single goal and their run of five consecutive victories has tied a program record.
The Rams' stout defense has been the most obvious reason behind their early season success and its evidenced by a .333 goals against average that has CSU tied for 14th in the nation. Hagen recently saw her team put together four consecutive clean sheets and her squad has permitted only two goals all year while eking out four straight one-goal triumphs. The Rams have also outpaced all six of their opponents in shots on goal.
Offensively, Olivia Fout's four goals and eight points both have her in the top five in the Mountain West Conference. The sophomore from Virginia started the year by scoring in each of her team's first three matches and twice she tallied the only goal in a 1-0 CSU victory.
Last Time Against Colorado State
Sunday's matchup will be only the second time the Utes have locked horns with the Rams and the first instance occurred in Salt Lake City in 2022. Utah was the beneficiary of goals by Madeline Vergura, Courtney Brown and Brooklyn Blaylock in a 3-0 shutout in which the Utes' defensive limited their guests to only a single shot on goal.
Racking Up Results on the Road
The Utes have gone undefeated through their first four road matches, logging a pair of wins and a pair of ties, the first time since 2014 the team has accomplished that feat. Utah soccer has never gone undefeated through their first five road contests.
Keeping an Eye on Courtney
Courtney Brown has already racked up seven points through the Utes first six games, the first Ute to accomplish that since Paola van der Veen also accumulated seven points through Utah's first six matches in 2018. Brown's stat line includes three assists, giving her 14 in her Utah career. Two more will tie her for fifth in program history.
Looking at the Pac-12 Leaderboard
One glance at the Pac-12's statistical leaderboard will uncover several Utes in the top five in various categories. Courtney Brown and Kennedy Schoennauer are tied for third in the league in assists, each with three, while Katie O'Kane's 21 shots are also good enough for ninth.
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.
Back Line Brilliance
The Utes allowed only two goals through three matches, the fewest goals they've permitted since they also held their first three opponents to only two scores in 2014. That season was also the last time the Utes recorded three clean sheets in their first five contests.
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 tangling with the Cougars, the Utes will make the short trip to Ogden, Utah on Sept. 14 for a 7 p.m. battle with Weber State.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @UtahWSoccer | Instagram: @UtahWSoccer | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utahwsoccer).
The first match of the week takes the Utes to Ogden, Utah on Thursday, where they'll face the Weber State Wildcats at Wildcat Soccer Field at 7 p.m., followed by a Sunday fixture against the Colorado State Rams at 1 p.m. at CSU Soccer Field in Fort Collins, Colo.
| THURSDAY'S MATCHUP Date | Time: Thursday, Sept. 14 | 7:00 p.m. Utah (3-2-2) vs. Weber State (0-6-0) Location: Ogden, Utah | Wildcat Soccer Field Live Stats: Click Here Live Stream: Click Here Twitter Updates: @UtahWSoccer |
SUNDAY'S MATCHUP Date | Time: Sunday, Sept. 17 | 1:00 p.m. Utah (3-2-2) vs. Colorado State (5-0-1) Location: Fort Collins, Colo. | CSU Soccer Field Live Stats: Click Here Live Stream: Click Here Twitter Updates: @UtahWSoccer |
Scouting Weber State
Through six matches in 2023, a first victory has so far eluded the Wildcats, who will be playing at home for just second time on Thursday. In 2022, half of WSU's six wins came on their home pitch, including back-to-back triumphs to close the regular season. The Wildcats did post a 1-1 tie with Utah Valley in a home exhibition on Aug. 12, but suffered 2-0 defeat in their home opener at the hands of UNLV.
Sayler Schlosser has been the top offensive producer for Weber State so far in 2023, leading the team in goals and points and tying for the lead in shots. The sophomore from Sayler Schlosser scored twice against Gonzaga on Aug. 24 for the first two goals of her collegiate career. Among the players still looking for their first score of 2023 are 2022 All-Big Sky First-Team selections Morgan Furmaniak and Yira Yoggerst. Three different Wildcats have seen time in goal through six matches, each making two starts.
All Time Against Weber State
The Utah-Weber State series has included 16 meetings, with the first fixture occurring in 1996 and resulting in a 3-1 win for the Utes. The Wildcats took both of the next two contests, but Utah captured 11 of the 12 clashes after that, including the most recent matchup in Ogden, which occurred in 2018 and ended 2-0. The Utes will enter Thursday's match having won in Ogden six consecutive times.
Last Time Against Weber State
Herriman, Utah was the site of the most recent match between these programs in the spring of 2021, which ended in a 1-1 draw. A 57th minute goal from Haley Farrar erased an early deficit for the Utes and saves by SJ Edwards and Chelsea Peterson helped the score remain level through the remainder of regulation and both overtime periods.
Scouting Colorado State
One year after posting a 4-7-8 record, head coach Keeley Hagen has guided the Rams to a 5-0-1 mark and they'll be trying to keep that undefeated record intact against Utah Tech on Thursday before meeting the Utes on Sunday. Each of CSU's last four wins have come by a single goal and their run of five consecutive victories has tied a program record.
The Rams' stout defense has been the most obvious reason behind their early season success and its evidenced by a .333 goals against average that has CSU tied for 14th in the nation. Hagen recently saw her team put together four consecutive clean sheets and her squad has permitted only two goals all year while eking out four straight one-goal triumphs. The Rams have also outpaced all six of their opponents in shots on goal.
Offensively, Olivia Fout's four goals and eight points both have her in the top five in the Mountain West Conference. The sophomore from Virginia started the year by scoring in each of her team's first three matches and twice she tallied the only goal in a 1-0 CSU victory.
Last Time Against Colorado State
Sunday's matchup will be only the second time the Utes have locked horns with the Rams and the first instance occurred in Salt Lake City in 2022. Utah was the beneficiary of goals by Madeline Vergura, Courtney Brown and Brooklyn Blaylock in a 3-0 shutout in which the Utes' defensive limited their guests to only a single shot on goal.
Racking Up Results on the Road
The Utes have gone undefeated through their first four road matches, logging a pair of wins and a pair of ties, the first time since 2014 the team has accomplished that feat. Utah soccer has never gone undefeated through their first five road contests.
Keeping an Eye on Courtney
Courtney Brown has already racked up seven points through the Utes first six games, the first Ute to accomplish that since Paola van der Veen also accumulated seven points through Utah's first six matches in 2018. Brown's stat line includes three assists, giving her 14 in her Utah career. Two more will tie her for fifth in program history.
Looking at the Pac-12 Leaderboard
One glance at the Pac-12's statistical leaderboard will uncover several Utes in the top five in various categories. Courtney Brown and Kennedy Schoennauer are tied for third in the league in assists, each with three, while Katie O'Kane's 21 shots are also good enough for ninth.
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.
Back Line Brilliance
The Utes allowed only two goals through three matches, the fewest goals they've permitted since they also held their first three opponents to only two scores in 2014. That season was also the last time the Utes recorded three clean sheets in their first five contests.
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 tangling with the Cougars, the Utes will make the short trip to Ogden, Utah on Sept. 14 for a 7 p.m. battle with Weber State.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @UtahWSoccer | Instagram: @UtahWSoccer | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utahwsoccer).
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