Callaway, Woods Help Bring Utes Win Over Wildcats

Thursday, October 10

Manhattan, KS

6 p.m.

University of Utah

6-4-4, 3-2-2

Kansas State

3-8-3, 0-5-2

Team	1	2	Final F
Utah	0	2	2
Kansas St.	1	0	1

Callaway, Woods Help Bring Utes Win Over Wildcats

10/10/2024 9:40 PM | Soccer

Box Score

Utah soccer scores second-ever Big 12 road success, 2-1

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Katie Callaway and Bella Woods both contributed a goal for the University of Utah's women's soccer program's second Big 12 road win over conference rival Kansas State in a 2-1 match on Thursday evening at Buser Family Park in Manhattan, Kan.

Utah earns second-ever Big 12 road win, to secure three points in the conference standings and bumps their record to 6-4-4 and 3-2-2 in Big 12 play. This brings the Utes a win in their first-ever matchup with the Kansas State Wildcats.

"I am incredibly proud of our response to secure an important three points tonight," said head coach Hideki Nakada. "Kansas State gave us all we could handle physically in the first half and we put ourselves in the hole."

The game started in the Wildcats' favor as they came out of the gate aggressive, seizing the initiative and hitting the back of the net in the 5^th minute. Kansas State continued to play a physical game as the Utes fought to keep control of the ball, but the visitors were unable to net any shots before the half.

After the half, the tides changes and the Utes tallied two close shots right out of the gate.

"We challenged them at half time to be sharper on the ball and match and overcome their physicality, and I couldn't be more proud of their resiliency and response in the second half," said Nakada.

In the 50^th minute, sophomore Lilliah Blum gained control of a free kick from junior Rachel Bastone and booted the ball to the top right corner of the goal. It was saved by the Wildcat's keeper, but she fumbled it to the ground, which gave freshman Katie Callaway the chance to bump it past the goal line and equalize the match.

51' | GOALLLLLLLL by CALLAWAY !!!

The Utes equal it out, 1-1#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/rXU75h8KBJ
— Utah Women's Soccer (@UtahWSoccer) October 11, 2024

This will mark not only Callaway's second career goal, but second score in as many games, and Blum's seventh assist this season. Blum is the first Ute since Ireland Dunn in 2018 to achieve that many helpers in one season. These efforts also put her in a three-way tie for the Big 12 leader, right beside Oli Pena from TCU and Laudan Wilson at Oklahoma State.

Both teams upped the pressure and worked hard to break the tie, Utah putting up 11 shots to the opponents five just in the second half.

In the final minutes of the match, junior Kelly Bullock passed the ball to senior Katie O'Kane to get it out of reach for the Kansas State defenders. O'Kane crossed over the defenders' heads to freshman Bella Woods, who was sitting right outside of the 18-yard box. Woods cut inside a Kansas player for a swipe right into the left bottom of the net, bringing Utah into the lead, 2-1. Woods has now earned two game-winning goals this season, the last one being in the season opener against Gonzaga in the 90^th minute.

85' | WOODS WITH A GOAL TO PUSH THE UTES INTO THE LEAD, 2-1 !!!#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/SJxxcFT581
— Utah Women's Soccer (@UtahWSoccer) October 11, 2024

With only five minutes of the game remaining, K-State upped their presence, but earned two of the game's 27 fouls, keeping the Utes in the surplus, 2-1.

"We will enjoy this victory tonight and we'll start preparation for Kansas tomorrow," said Nakada.

Next Up
Utah stays in Kansas but moves on to Lawrence, Kan. to go head-to-head with the University of Kansas Jayhawks at 12 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @UtahWSoccer | Instagram: @UtahWSoccer | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utahwsoccer), and the official mobile app of Utah Athletics, Utah360 -- download here.