The U men’s soccer club team lost 0-1 in its first match against Westminster on Aug. 29. On Sept. 5, the club tied its second match 1-1, against Westminster.
Head coach Gilbert Gaertner II attested the team’s losses to the fact that seven of his starters return late to school and the start of the soccer season. The club, without seven of its starters, just didn’t seem to find any rhythm offensively in its first two matches, but it appears to have found its groove since.
In its past two matches, with the return of its seven starters, the club has scored 11 goals and four in its third match against Idaho State, in which the Utes won 4-0.
It was against Southern Utah that the club’s offense came to life, showing up SUU by a score of 7-1.
Even though there is no doubt that the struggle the Utes had offensively in the first two games is a problem of the past, Gaertner said the offense wasn’t the problem to begin with.
“The difference is not offensively,” Gaerter said. “The difference has been on defense. We have become a lot more synchronized, keeping the ball on their side of the field, always pushing the ball forward, giving us many chances to score.”
“They are very organized,” Gaertner said about SLCC. “They have a very good coach, and we need to decide how we are going to play in the first 10 minutes. If we play well in the first 10 minutes and hold them scoreless, it will really set a tone for our team and for the game.”
The club has six matches left until the NIRSA Regionals in Boise, which take place on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.
The club looks to improve upon its 2-1-1 record and continue building on its two game winning streak at 5 p.m. on Friday at Salt Lake Community College. Following the game Friday night, the club will play at 2 p.m. Saturday against Weber State University in Ogden.