Upcoming Event: Soccer at Arizona on October 10, 2025 at 8 p.m.
8 p.m.
Soccer
at Arizona
.png&width=31&height=31&type=webp)
Friday, October 10
Tucson, AZ
8 p.m.
University of Utah
at
Arizona
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Midfielder/Defender
/ Soccer
Arizona on the Docket for Utah Soccer on Friday
10/8/2025 1:48 PM | Soccer
Utes aiming for back-to-back road wins when they visit Tucson
SALT LAKE CITY – A three-match road swing is nearing its end for the University of Utah women's soccer team, but first the Utes have one more assignment away from home on Friday, when they'll pay a visit to the Arizona Wildcats at Murphey Field at Mulcahy Stadium for an 7 p.m. MST (8 p.m. MT) match in Tucson, Ariz.
Last Time Out
The Utes scored one of their most important victories of the season in their last outing, topping Houston 1-0 for their third road triumph. The Utes became the first team to shutout the Cougars on their home field in 2025.
The only goal the Utes needed came from Bella Woods in the 15th minute, her first score of the year. Her shot came from over 30 yards and beat the keeper to provide her squad with an early lead. In her collegiate career, Woods has scored four times and three of those have been decisive.
The rest of the match was all about Utah's defense and goalkeeper Erin Gibbs. Gibbs made several clutch saves, including denying a 1-on-1 opportunity in the closing minutes. Her four stops, along with the work of a back line that included Woods, Mia Paugh, Ava Hetzel and Brooklyn Blaylock kept the Utes' advantage intact. Hetzel, Blaylock and Paugh are all among the team leaders in minutes played, with Hetzel's 1168 minutes on the pitch leading the way among non-goalkeepers.
Scouting the Wildcats
Becca Morris' team recently finished a road trip of their own and they'll be attempting to right the ship following consecutive losses to West Virginia and Cincinnati. To this point in the season, home cooking has been the cure for anything that has ailed the Wildcats, as evidenced by a 6-1 home ledger.
In all six of those victories, Arizona has scored first and they've totaled nine goals across their last three fixtures in Tucson. Their largest outburst in that span was a 5-2 downing of Grand Canyon, the second time in 2025 the Wildcats have put five goals on the board.
Utah and Arizona will meet for the 24th time on Friday, with the Wildcats owning a 12-10-1 advantage overall. Of the last 13 matchups, 12 have been decided by a single goal, the lone exception being a scoreless draw in 2019. A year ago in Salt Lake City, the Utes used a 67th minute tally from Katie O'Kane to triumph, 1-0.
Senior Class
The Utes have plenty of experience on their roster, which includes seven seniors, Erin Gibbs, Brooklyn Blaylock, Alex Schoenstadt, Kelly Bullock, Ryann Cull, Sophie Bellini and Ali Swensen, and three graduate students, Devi Dudley, Grace Watkins and Ava Hetzel.
Blaylock, Bullock and Cull are all entering their fourth season at Utah and have appeared in 158 total matches during their collegiate careers. Blaylock and Cull have been fixtures on the back line for the Utes, combining for 78 starts, while Bullock is coming off an all-conference season and will add to her total of 52 starts from 2022-24.
Schoenstadt came to Salt Lake City in time for the start of the 2023 season and will be back in action after an injury knocked her out for 2024. Gibbs, Dudley, Watkins and Hetzel are all in their second year with the Utes while Swensen and Bellini will be in their initial Utah campaign.
New Utes
Bellini and Swensen are two of 12 new players Hideki Nakada added to his roster during the offseason, a group comprised of two seniors, one sophomore and nine freshman. Malaspina is the newest addition to the goalkeeper room after starting her career at UC Colorado Springs and defender Madison Encinas also came out of the portal after spending a redshirt year at Baylor.
From the prep ranks, the Utes added goalkeeper Emeline McClenahan, defender Reese Kennel, midfielder and defender Mimi Yamamoto, midfielders Shannon Davidson, Eliza Smith and Addison Lockerby and forwards Julia Oka and Abby Affleck.
Oh Captains, My Captains
Utah will be led by its three graduate students this season. Devi Dudley, Grace Watkins and Ava Hetzel will serve as the team's three captains during the 2025 campaign. The trio has combined to play in 245 collegiate games.
Coaches Corner
Last season, head coach Hideki Nakada hired a pair of new assistant coaches in Travis Smith and Jackie Poortinga. The two return for their second seasons with Utah in 2025 and will be joined by new assistant coach Sam Gomez.
Gomez brings with him a wealth of experience that includes time as the Girls Director of Coaching at the Utah Athletic Academy and head coach of the girls soccer team at Highland High School. Gomez has also honed his skills as a coach at Port Orchard FC, Impact United and Kitsap Alliance FC.
Prior to moving into the coaching ranks, he played professionally in the Honduran 1st Division with Real CD Espana, as well as with San Diego 1904 FC in the NISA. This followed a collegiate career at Cal State University Bakersfield, where he was an academic all-conference selection and earned a degree in Kinesiology.
NCAA Tournament History
The Utes enter 2025 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.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @UtahWSoccer | Instagram: @UtahWSoccer | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utahwsoccer).
| FRIDAY'S MATCHUP Date | Time: Friday, Oct. 10 | 7:00 p.m. (MT) Utah (6-5-3, 1-2-2) vs. Arizona (7-6-0, 2-3-0) Location: Tucson, Ariz. | Murphy Field at Mulcahy Stadium Live Stats: Click Here Live Stream: ESPN+ Twitter Updates: @UtahWSoccer |
|
Last Time Out
The Utes scored one of their most important victories of the season in their last outing, topping Houston 1-0 for their third road triumph. The Utes became the first team to shutout the Cougars on their home field in 2025.
The only goal the Utes needed came from Bella Woods in the 15th minute, her first score of the year. Her shot came from over 30 yards and beat the keeper to provide her squad with an early lead. In her collegiate career, Woods has scored four times and three of those have been decisive.
The rest of the match was all about Utah's defense and goalkeeper Erin Gibbs. Gibbs made several clutch saves, including denying a 1-on-1 opportunity in the closing minutes. Her four stops, along with the work of a back line that included Woods, Mia Paugh, Ava Hetzel and Brooklyn Blaylock kept the Utes' advantage intact. Hetzel, Blaylock and Paugh are all among the team leaders in minutes played, with Hetzel's 1168 minutes on the pitch leading the way among non-goalkeepers.
Scouting the Wildcats
Becca Morris' team recently finished a road trip of their own and they'll be attempting to right the ship following consecutive losses to West Virginia and Cincinnati. To this point in the season, home cooking has been the cure for anything that has ailed the Wildcats, as evidenced by a 6-1 home ledger.
In all six of those victories, Arizona has scored first and they've totaled nine goals across their last three fixtures in Tucson. Their largest outburst in that span was a 5-2 downing of Grand Canyon, the second time in 2025 the Wildcats have put five goals on the board.
Utah and Arizona will meet for the 24th time on Friday, with the Wildcats owning a 12-10-1 advantage overall. Of the last 13 matchups, 12 have been decided by a single goal, the lone exception being a scoreless draw in 2019. A year ago in Salt Lake City, the Utes used a 67th minute tally from Katie O'Kane to triumph, 1-0.
Senior Class
The Utes have plenty of experience on their roster, which includes seven seniors, Erin Gibbs, Brooklyn Blaylock, Alex Schoenstadt, Kelly Bullock, Ryann Cull, Sophie Bellini and Ali Swensen, and three graduate students, Devi Dudley, Grace Watkins and Ava Hetzel.
Blaylock, Bullock and Cull are all entering their fourth season at Utah and have appeared in 158 total matches during their collegiate careers. Blaylock and Cull have been fixtures on the back line for the Utes, combining for 78 starts, while Bullock is coming off an all-conference season and will add to her total of 52 starts from 2022-24.
Schoenstadt came to Salt Lake City in time for the start of the 2023 season and will be back in action after an injury knocked her out for 2024. Gibbs, Dudley, Watkins and Hetzel are all in their second year with the Utes while Swensen and Bellini will be in their initial Utah campaign.
New Utes
Bellini and Swensen are two of 12 new players Hideki Nakada added to his roster during the offseason, a group comprised of two seniors, one sophomore and nine freshman. Malaspina is the newest addition to the goalkeeper room after starting her career at UC Colorado Springs and defender Madison Encinas also came out of the portal after spending a redshirt year at Baylor.
From the prep ranks, the Utes added goalkeeper Emeline McClenahan, defender Reese Kennel, midfielder and defender Mimi Yamamoto, midfielders Shannon Davidson, Eliza Smith and Addison Lockerby and forwards Julia Oka and Abby Affleck.
Oh Captains, My Captains
Utah will be led by its three graduate students this season. Devi Dudley, Grace Watkins and Ava Hetzel will serve as the team's three captains during the 2025 campaign. The trio has combined to play in 245 collegiate games.
Coaches Corner
Last season, head coach Hideki Nakada hired a pair of new assistant coaches in Travis Smith and Jackie Poortinga. The two return for their second seasons with Utah in 2025 and will be joined by new assistant coach Sam Gomez.
Gomez brings with him a wealth of experience that includes time as the Girls Director of Coaching at the Utah Athletic Academy and head coach of the girls soccer team at Highland High School. Gomez has also honed his skills as a coach at Port Orchard FC, Impact United and Kitsap Alliance FC.
Prior to moving into the coaching ranks, he played professionally in the Honduran 1st Division with Real CD Espana, as well as with San Diego 1904 FC in the NISA. This followed a collegiate career at Cal State University Bakersfield, where he was an academic all-conference selection and earned a degree in Kinesiology.
NCAA Tournament History
The Utes enter 2025 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.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @UtahWSoccer | Instagram: @UtahWSoccer | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utahwsoccer).
Utah Soccer's Ali Swensen - ESPN+ Feature
Saturday, September 27
Utah Soccer's Lilliah Blum - ESPN+ Feature
Wednesday, September 24
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Tony Caridi, voice of the West Virginia Mountaineers
Tuesday, September 23
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Urban Meyer
Wednesday, September 17