Hat Tricks by Kaufusi, O’Kane Help Soccer Overwhelm Weber

Sunday, September 1

Salt Lake City, UT

6 p.m.

University of Utah

2-1-1, 0-0-0

Weber State

0-4-2, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Weber St.	1	0	1
Utah	3	4	7

Hat Tricks by Kaufusi, O’Kane Help Soccer Overwhelm Weber

9/1/2024 10:40 PM | Soccer

Box Score

Third game this season the Utes score in the first 10 minutes

SALT LAKE CITY - The University of Utah dominated Weber State on the pitch, 7-1, in a Sunday night face off at Ute Field.

After their first loss of the season, the Utes (2-1-1) came back with a vengeance and showed their dominance in Sunday's game against in-state opponent, Weber State (0-4-2).

"I told the team after Wednesday that we would need a big response today and I think we did just that," said head coach Hideki Nakada.

Two Utes completed hat tricks, senior forward Katie O'Kane and graduate forward Taliana Kaufusi, marking this as the first recorded double hat trick in program history. The last hat trick in the record book was also O'Kane, completed in a match against Oregon in October of 2023.

"During my coaching career, I have never had a double hat trick, so that was a really special moment," said Nakada. "But, those guys being able to score those goals was because of team work. Watkins didn't have to pass to Kaufusi, but she did because she felt it was the right option and it paid off. They did a much better job playing as a collective group, which allowed us to create the chances and put away the goals."

The Utes outshot the Wildcats 12-5, making this the third of four opponents this season to fall to the Utes efforts.

O'Kane was quick to put a point on the scoreboard for Utah, scoring unassisted off a corner kick in the 9^th minute. This is the third game this season the Utes have scored in the first 10 minutes of a match.

The California native tallied her next goal in the 16^th minute, with an assist by senior defender Maryn Granger.

Freshman Callie Blaylock scored her first career goal thanks to assists from junior forward Kelly Bullock and graduate forward Grace Watkins, bumping the score to 3-1 just before the half.

Blaylock wasn't the only underclassman with new achievements. Freshman defender Bella Ganiere and freshman defender Siena Zunino both found themselves on the pitch for the first time this season.

"First half performance wasn't great, but we challenged them in half time and we came out much better in the second half," said Nakada.

After half time, both teams came out with new fire, earning seven fouls between the two teams.

Weber fought to keep up with the Utes with a goal in the 33^rd minute, but were unable to find their way back into the net during the second half.

Kaufusi took over after half time with back-to-back-to-back goals in the 49^th, 56^th and 58^th minutes, recording her first career hat trick. The Salt Lake native was assisted by Watkins, sophomore midfielder Lilliah Blum, Bullock and freshman defender Mia Paugh.

In the 69^th minute, O'Kane finished off her hat trick hitting the back of the net with an assist from freshman midfielder Katie Callaway, marking a historical moment for the Utes.

"It was more of a team performance that created chances and scored those goals, so I'm really, really proud of this group," said Nakada. "We'll enjoy this tonight, but when we wake up tomorrow we'll get ready for our trip to LSU."

Next Up
Follow the Utes as they hop on the road for their first away game of the season against LSU on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 6 p.m.

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.