Upcoming Event: Soccer versus LSU on September 7, 2025 at 1 p.m.
1 p.m.
Soccer
vs LSU
Thursday, September 4
Seattle, WA
8 p.m.
University of Utah
at
Washington
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ 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
Photo by: Anna Fuder/Utah Athletics
Utah Soccer to Be Tested By LSU
9/2/2025 1:17 AM | Soccer
September starts with a pair of difficult assignments
SALT LAKE CITY – After earning a dramatic road win over Washington on Thursday, The University of Utah women's soccer team will come home to meet the LSU Tigers at Ute Field in Salt Lake City on Sunday in a matchup that will commence at 1 p.m. MT.
Last Time Out
The main catalyst for the Utes over their last three matches has been midfielder Lilliah Blum, who started the scoring in Utah's most recent competition with a 10th-minute score that started her team on its way to a 3- 0 triumph over N.C. State. That marked the third straight bout in which Blum has found the back of the net, making her the first Ute to accomplish that feat since Ireland Dunn in 2019. Blum's three goals also represent a new career-high for a full season.
Another Ute who has been earning herself a place on the scoresheet of late is Ali Swensen, who trails only Blum in total points on the roster. In Utah's home opener against Westminster, she assisted on two of the Utes' four goals and, against Wolfpack, she slotted home her first Utah goal in the second half. Swensen is one of five Utes who've logged their first score for the program in 2025.
Utah's back line has remained sturdy of late, led in part by defenders Ava Hetzel and Brooklyn Blaylock, two of the team's leaders in minutes played. In their last three fixtures, the Utes have limited their opponents to just seven total shots on goal, including giving up just one to N.C. State. Two of those affairs have also ended in shutouts.
Scouting the Tigers
The Tigers have scored impressive victories in each of their last two outings, starting with a 1-0 defeat of 21st-ranked Wisconsin on Aug. 28. On Aug. 31, they tangled with UC Davis and found themselves trailing after the first hour but leapfrogged into the lead thanks to goals from Morgan Witz and Ida Hermannsdottir less than two minutes apart. To keep those positive vibes going into their match against the Utes, LSU will first have to deal with Utah Valley on Thursday.
Those two most recent wins pushed the Tigers' record to 4-2 in 2025 and two of the players who've played starring roles are forward Ida Hermannsdottir and forward/midfielder Ava Galligan. Both players are tied for the team lead with eight points and one of them has been responsible for the game-winning goal in all four of their team's wins. The most dramatic of those was Galligan's 90th minute winner against the Badgers.
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).
| THURSDAY'S MATCHUP Date | Time: Thursday, Sept. 4 | 8:00 p.m. (MT) Utah (3-1-1) at Washington (3-0-3) Location: Seattle, Wash. | Husky Soccer Stadium Live Stats: Click Here Live Stream: Big Ten Plus Twitter Updates: @UtahWSoccer |
SUNDAY'S MATCHUP Date | Time: Sunday, Sept. 7 | 1:00 p.m. (MT) Utah (3-1-1) vs. LSU (4-2-0) Location: Salt Lake City | Ute Field Live Stats: Click Here Live Stream: ESPN+ Twitter Updates: @UtahWSoccer |
Last Time Out
The main catalyst for the Utes over their last three matches has been midfielder Lilliah Blum, who started the scoring in Utah's most recent competition with a 10th-minute score that started her team on its way to a 3- 0 triumph over N.C. State. That marked the third straight bout in which Blum has found the back of the net, making her the first Ute to accomplish that feat since Ireland Dunn in 2019. Blum's three goals also represent a new career-high for a full season.
Another Ute who has been earning herself a place on the scoresheet of late is Ali Swensen, who trails only Blum in total points on the roster. In Utah's home opener against Westminster, she assisted on two of the Utes' four goals and, against Wolfpack, she slotted home her first Utah goal in the second half. Swensen is one of five Utes who've logged their first score for the program in 2025.
Utah's back line has remained sturdy of late, led in part by defenders Ava Hetzel and Brooklyn Blaylock, two of the team's leaders in minutes played. In their last three fixtures, the Utes have limited their opponents to just seven total shots on goal, including giving up just one to N.C. State. Two of those affairs have also ended in shutouts.
Scouting the Tigers
The Tigers have scored impressive victories in each of their last two outings, starting with a 1-0 defeat of 21st-ranked Wisconsin on Aug. 28. On Aug. 31, they tangled with UC Davis and found themselves trailing after the first hour but leapfrogged into the lead thanks to goals from Morgan Witz and Ida Hermannsdottir less than two minutes apart. To keep those positive vibes going into their match against the Utes, LSU will first have to deal with Utah Valley on Thursday.
Those two most recent wins pushed the Tigers' record to 4-2 in 2025 and two of the players who've played starring roles are forward Ida Hermannsdottir and forward/midfielder Ava Galligan. Both players are tied for the team lead with eight points and one of them has been responsible for the game-winning goal in all four of their team's wins. The most dramatic of those was Galligan's 90th minute winner against the Badgers.
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 - Ron McBride
Wednesday, September 03
Utah Women's Soccer Head Coach Hideki Nakada heads into his 5th year - ESPN+ Feature
Tuesday, September 02
Utah Soccer's Kelly Bullock - ESPN+ Feature
Tuesday, September 02
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Debut
Tuesday, August 26