Upcoming Event: Soccer at No. 14 TCU on September 19, 2025 at 6 p.m.
6 p.m.
Soccer
at No. 14 TCU
Friday, September 19
Fort Worth, TX
6 p.m.
University of Utah
at
No. 14 TCU
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
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Midfielder/Defender
/ Soccer
Utah’s Big 12 Slate Starts at No. 14 TCU
9/17/2025 1:38 PM | Soccer
Utes visit Fort Worth on Friday night
SALT LAKE CITY – The 2025 nonconference schedule is officially complete for the University of Utah women's soccer team and the Utes are preparing to begin Big 12 play on Friday, when they'll travel to Fort Worth, Texas to visit the No. 14 TCU Horned Frogs for a 6 p.m. tilt at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
Last Time Out
The Utes had an up-and-down finish to non-conference action during the previous week, which started with a 2-1 victory over Utah Tech on Thursday.
The goal scorers on that day were Kelly Bullock, who tied for the team lead with her third score of the season, and Abby Affleck, who recorded her first collegiate goal. Affleck is one of five Utes who've found the back of the net for the first time collegiately in 2025. The assist on Affleck's tally came from Reese Kennel, who also made it on to the scoresheet for the first time as a Ute.
Mia Paugh added her name to the list of Utah's first-time goal scorers on Sunday against Oregon State, but the Utes found themselves on the short end of a 2-1 final. Affleck and Paugh have helped contribute to Utah's total of 155 shots through nine games, which ranks second in the conference and puts them in the top 50 nationally.
Scouting the Horned Frogs
The Horned Frogs spent 2024 dominating the conference on their way to a 9-0-2 league record and their third Big 12 regular season title. In non-conference play so far in 2025, TCU has looked like a team intent on regaining that crown, winning at Iowa, at Texas and at home against Texas A&M.
The catalyst to TCU's attack so far in 2025 has been senior Seven Castain, who leads the conference in shots and shots on goals and is among the Big 12's leaders in goals and points. A native of Draper, Utah, Castain is a two-time All-Big 12 First-Team pick who has already collected five goals and two assists, with two of those scores coming TCU's most recent victory, a 2-1 triumph over Gonzaga on Sept. 12.
Friday's matchup will represent the 10th meeting all-time between these programs and the first since the programs were rivals in the Mountain West Conference. The last conference meeting between these foes occurred in 2010 and ended in a Utah victory in Fort Worth. The Utes own a 6-3 mark against the Horned Frogs that includes wins in the last four fixtures.
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 204 collegiate games entering this season.
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, Sept. 19 | 6:00 p.m. (MT) Utah (5-3-1) at No. 14 TCU (6-1-0) Location: Fort Worth, Texas | Mike A. Myers Stadium Live Stats: Click Here Live Stream: ESPN+ Twitter Updates: @UtahWSoccer |
Last Time Out
The Utes had an up-and-down finish to non-conference action during the previous week, which started with a 2-1 victory over Utah Tech on Thursday.
The goal scorers on that day were Kelly Bullock, who tied for the team lead with her third score of the season, and Abby Affleck, who recorded her first collegiate goal. Affleck is one of five Utes who've found the back of the net for the first time collegiately in 2025. The assist on Affleck's tally came from Reese Kennel, who also made it on to the scoresheet for the first time as a Ute.
Mia Paugh added her name to the list of Utah's first-time goal scorers on Sunday against Oregon State, but the Utes found themselves on the short end of a 2-1 final. Affleck and Paugh have helped contribute to Utah's total of 155 shots through nine games, which ranks second in the conference and puts them in the top 50 nationally.
Scouting the Horned Frogs
The Horned Frogs spent 2024 dominating the conference on their way to a 9-0-2 league record and their third Big 12 regular season title. In non-conference play so far in 2025, TCU has looked like a team intent on regaining that crown, winning at Iowa, at Texas and at home against Texas A&M.
The catalyst to TCU's attack so far in 2025 has been senior Seven Castain, who leads the conference in shots and shots on goals and is among the Big 12's leaders in goals and points. A native of Draper, Utah, Castain is a two-time All-Big 12 First-Team pick who has already collected five goals and two assists, with two of those scores coming TCU's most recent victory, a 2-1 triumph over Gonzaga on Sept. 12.
Friday's matchup will represent the 10th meeting all-time between these programs and the first since the programs were rivals in the Mountain West Conference. The last conference meeting between these foes occurred in 2010 and ended in a Utah victory in Fort Worth. The Utes own a 6-3 mark against the Horned Frogs that includes wins in the last four fixtures.
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 204 collegiate games entering this season.
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).
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Urban Meyer
Wednesday, September 17
Utah Soccer's Grace Watkins - ESPN+ Feature
Sunday, September 14
Utah Soccer's Devi Dudley - ESPN+ Feature
Thursday, September 11
Utah Soccer's Ava Hetzel - ESPN+ Feature
Monday, September 08