Upcoming Event: Soccer at UCF on October 2, 2025 at 5 p.m.
5 p.m.
Soccer
at UCF
.png&width=31&height=31&type=webp)
Thursday, August 14
Spokane, WA
8 p.m.
University of Utah
at
Gonzaga
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Midfielder/Defender
/ Soccer
Photo by: Anna Fuder/Utah Athletics
Utah Soccer’s 2025 Fight Card Starts with Bout at Gonzaga
8/11/2025 11:57 AM | Soccer
Utes and Bulldogs to meet in rematch of 2024 opener
SALT LAKE CITY – Just one year ago, the University of Utah women's soccer team was preparing to embark on its maiden voyage in a new conference with the objective of making a lasting first impression on its new rivals while also striving to continue progressing towards the goal of being a perennial championship contender.
After an inaugural Big 12 season that saw the Utes post their highest conference win total since 2018, Hideki Nakada's club is ready to lift the lid on a new year, which will begin on Thursday when Utah travels to Spokane, Wash., where they'll meet the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Luger Field at 8 p.m.
2025 Outlook
Plenty of familiar faces will be back on the pitch for the Utes in 2025, but Utah soccer fans will also become acquainted with 12 new additions who've joined the roster over the last several months. Those newcomers will blend into a roster that returns five of the team's top seven scorers from a season ago, as well as the top three players in terms of minutes played.
No Ute spent more time on the field in 2024 than graduate midfielder Devi Dudley, who accumulated 1609 minutes on the pitch and was one of only two Utah returners to start all 19 matches. The other was junior Lilliah Blum, who is also the team's top returning scorer. The Wisconsin native knocked in a pair of goals, one of which was a game-winner, while piling up seven assists, tied for fifth-most in the Big 12. In the six games in which Blum contributed at least one point in 2024, the Utes posted a 5-0-1 record.
None of the players back in the fold have more career points as a Ute than senior forward Kelly Bullock, who also has yet to miss match since she arrived on campus. Of her six career goals, four have gone down as game-winners, including both of her tallies in 2025, and Bullock's work on the field was good enough to earned her an All-Big 12 Second-Team spot as a junior.
In goal, the Utes will have three candidates to pick from, with senior Erin Gibbs representing the most experienced option. Gibbs came on board prior to the start of 2024 and was in net for Utah's season-opening triumph over Gonzaga, one five fixtures she appeared in as a junior. One of the two newcomers to the keeper group is sophomore Alexa Malaspina, who posted a 10-5-2 mark in 2024 at UC Colorado Springs that included six clean sheets. Also fighting for time in goal is freshman Emeline McClenahan, who earned her spot on the roster with excellent goalkeeping for Chicago FC.
Scouting Gonzaga
The Bulldogs will be attempting to embark on what would be their eighth straight fall season with at least 10 victories, a streak that includes a West Coast Conference title in 2023. In 2024, new coach Katie Benz nearly guided her squad to another league championship, but now she's tasked with replacing the production of three of her top four scorers from a year ago, as well as the program's starting goalkeeper.
Among the returners for the Bulldogs is sophomore midfielder Amelia Severn, who spent her freshman year garnering All-WCC Honorable Mention and all-freshman team honors. The Washington native topped the team with seven assists and put together one six match stretch in which she tallied 13 points. The list of players back in action for Gonzaga also includes junior Katelyn Rigg, who scored five times with two helpers in 13 matches in 2024.
Benz's list of options at keeper consist of two freshmen and sophomore Michaela McCollum. A native of Portland, McCollum made three starts a year ago, the last of which was a three-save clean sheet at the expense of San Francisco.
This 2025 season opener will represent the fourth meeting between these sides, the most recent of which was 2024's lid-lifter. The Utes were the home team on that evening and used a final-minute strike from Bella Woods to claim a 2-1 triumph. That contest also represented the third 2-1 final in three fixtures between Utah and Gonzaga.
For Openers
In 30 season openers in the program's history, the Utes have compiled a 17-9-4 record and they also own an 8-5-4 mark when they've started the year on the road. Their most recent road win in game one came in 2017 in the form of a 3-0 triumph at Weber State.
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 appearances in the Starting XI, 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 beginning 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 kicking-off 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.
Prev-U
The Big 12 Conference released its preseason poll last week and the Utes were picked to finish ninth in the league. TCU was predicted to win the conference and received 13 of a possible 16 first-place votes after going unbeaten in league play a season ago. Texas Tech finished second in the poll with a pair of first place votes.
1. TCU (13) – 223
2. Texas Tech (2) – 202
3. BYU (1) – 191
4. West Virginia – 172
5. Kansas – 167
6. Colorado – 155
7. Oklahoma State – 153
8. Arizona – 113
9. Utah – 112
10. Baylor – 108
11. Arizona State – 98
12. UCF – 72
13. Cincinnati – 57
14. Iowa State – 40
15. Houston – 38
16. K-State – 19
Eliza Smith, Bella Ganiere and Abby Affleck also earned preseason recognition from the conference for their work in the classroom. The trio was named to the 2024-24 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team. Utah led all Big 12 athletic departments with 79 newcomers earning Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team recognition.
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 204 collegiate games entering this season.
Show Up, Shut Out
Last season, the Utah defense shined as the schedule wound down, tallying three-consecutive shutouts to close out the regular season. The Utes blanked Houston (W, 1-0), Baylor (W, 2-0) and Colorado (T, 0-0) in consecutive outings to earn the No. 8 seed in the Big 12 Conference Tournament. It marked the first time since 2022 that a Utah team blanked three opponents in a row and the first time since 2019 that the Utes did so while winning at least two of the 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.
Scanning the Schedule
The Utes are starting the season on the road for the third time in the last four campaigns and they'll follow their trip to Spokane by traveling to Utah Valley on Aug. 18. Utah's first home fixture will come on Aug. 21 when they host Westminster at 7 p.m. and that will represent one of 11 home matches for Nakada's club. The Utes will open Big 12 play on Sept. 19 at TCU followed by a home clash with Cincinnati on Sept. 24.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @UtahWSoccer | Instagram: @UtahWSoccer | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utahwsoccer).
After an inaugural Big 12 season that saw the Utes post their highest conference win total since 2018, Hideki Nakada's club is ready to lift the lid on a new year, which will begin on Thursday when Utah travels to Spokane, Wash., where they'll meet the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Luger Field at 8 p.m.
| THURSDAY'S MATCHUP Date | Time: Thursday, Aug. 14 | 8:00 p.m. (MT) Utah (0-0-0) vs. Gonzaga (0-0-0) Location: Spokane, Wash. | Luger Field Live Stats: Click Here Live Stream: Click Here Twitter Updates: @UtahWSoccer |
2025 Outlook
Plenty of familiar faces will be back on the pitch for the Utes in 2025, but Utah soccer fans will also become acquainted with 12 new additions who've joined the roster over the last several months. Those newcomers will blend into a roster that returns five of the team's top seven scorers from a season ago, as well as the top three players in terms of minutes played.
No Ute spent more time on the field in 2024 than graduate midfielder Devi Dudley, who accumulated 1609 minutes on the pitch and was one of only two Utah returners to start all 19 matches. The other was junior Lilliah Blum, who is also the team's top returning scorer. The Wisconsin native knocked in a pair of goals, one of which was a game-winner, while piling up seven assists, tied for fifth-most in the Big 12. In the six games in which Blum contributed at least one point in 2024, the Utes posted a 5-0-1 record.
None of the players back in the fold have more career points as a Ute than senior forward Kelly Bullock, who also has yet to miss match since she arrived on campus. Of her six career goals, four have gone down as game-winners, including both of her tallies in 2025, and Bullock's work on the field was good enough to earned her an All-Big 12 Second-Team spot as a junior.
In goal, the Utes will have three candidates to pick from, with senior Erin Gibbs representing the most experienced option. Gibbs came on board prior to the start of 2024 and was in net for Utah's season-opening triumph over Gonzaga, one five fixtures she appeared in as a junior. One of the two newcomers to the keeper group is sophomore Alexa Malaspina, who posted a 10-5-2 mark in 2024 at UC Colorado Springs that included six clean sheets. Also fighting for time in goal is freshman Emeline McClenahan, who earned her spot on the roster with excellent goalkeeping for Chicago FC.
Scouting Gonzaga
The Bulldogs will be attempting to embark on what would be their eighth straight fall season with at least 10 victories, a streak that includes a West Coast Conference title in 2023. In 2024, new coach Katie Benz nearly guided her squad to another league championship, but now she's tasked with replacing the production of three of her top four scorers from a year ago, as well as the program's starting goalkeeper.
Among the returners for the Bulldogs is sophomore midfielder Amelia Severn, who spent her freshman year garnering All-WCC Honorable Mention and all-freshman team honors. The Washington native topped the team with seven assists and put together one six match stretch in which she tallied 13 points. The list of players back in action for Gonzaga also includes junior Katelyn Rigg, who scored five times with two helpers in 13 matches in 2024.
Benz's list of options at keeper consist of two freshmen and sophomore Michaela McCollum. A native of Portland, McCollum made three starts a year ago, the last of which was a three-save clean sheet at the expense of San Francisco.
This 2025 season opener will represent the fourth meeting between these sides, the most recent of which was 2024's lid-lifter. The Utes were the home team on that evening and used a final-minute strike from Bella Woods to claim a 2-1 triumph. That contest also represented the third 2-1 final in three fixtures between Utah and Gonzaga.
For Openers
In 30 season openers in the program's history, the Utes have compiled a 17-9-4 record and they also own an 8-5-4 mark when they've started the year on the road. Their most recent road win in game one came in 2017 in the form of a 3-0 triumph at Weber State.
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 appearances in the Starting XI, 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 beginning 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 kicking-off 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.
Prev-U
The Big 12 Conference released its preseason poll last week and the Utes were picked to finish ninth in the league. TCU was predicted to win the conference and received 13 of a possible 16 first-place votes after going unbeaten in league play a season ago. Texas Tech finished second in the poll with a pair of first place votes.
1. TCU (13) – 223
2. Texas Tech (2) – 202
3. BYU (1) – 191
4. West Virginia – 172
5. Kansas – 167
6. Colorado – 155
7. Oklahoma State – 153
8. Arizona – 113
9. Utah – 112
10. Baylor – 108
11. Arizona State – 98
12. UCF – 72
13. Cincinnati – 57
14. Iowa State – 40
15. Houston – 38
16. K-State – 19
Eliza Smith, Bella Ganiere and Abby Affleck also earned preseason recognition from the conference for their work in the classroom. The trio was named to the 2024-24 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team. Utah led all Big 12 athletic departments with 79 newcomers earning Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team recognition.
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 204 collegiate games entering this season.
Show Up, Shut Out
Last season, the Utah defense shined as the schedule wound down, tallying three-consecutive shutouts to close out the regular season. The Utes blanked Houston (W, 1-0), Baylor (W, 2-0) and Colorado (T, 0-0) in consecutive outings to earn the No. 8 seed in the Big 12 Conference Tournament. It marked the first time since 2022 that a Utah team blanked three opponents in a row and the first time since 2019 that the Utes did so while winning at least two of the 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.
Scanning the Schedule
The Utes are starting the season on the road for the third time in the last four campaigns and they'll follow their trip to Spokane by traveling to Utah Valley on Aug. 18. Utah's first home fixture will come on Aug. 21 when they host Westminster at 7 p.m. and that will represent one of 11 home matches for Nakada's club. The Utes will open Big 12 play on Sept. 19 at TCU followed by a home clash with Cincinnati on Sept. 24.
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