Crowds streamed in after the ribbon was cut, unveiling the new Ute Field. The sun was high in the sky and the fields were freshly cut and painted. It was a perfect day for a soccer match, and a perfect day to present the work that had been taken on by the U in recent months. Fans, coaches, and former players all eagerly awaited for the match to begin, gathering hot dogs, graciously provided by J Dawgs, and candy.

The University of Utah women’s soccer team played their home opener against Utah State, a team who came into the match with a record of 1-1-1.  The Utes, on the other hand, entered the game 0-2.

Coming off of a road trip with two losses in the South, the Utes needed a win, especially at home. On Friday night they got one. Facing in-state rival Utah State, the Utes scored early and didn’t let up, giving the large crowd much to cheer about.

Of course, the game was also special because it was the inaugural game played at the U’s newly constructed Ute Field. The Utes’ first goal scored at the new field — and first goal of the season for that matter — came 20 minutes and 59 seconds into the game courtesy of Holly Daugirda. It was a great way to start a string of many wins that this new stadium will produce through the effort of many Utes.

The Utes’ then scored off of a corner kick at the 26 minute and 16 second mark, and rounded out the match with a final goal scored 82 minutes into the game. These goals were scored by Haylee Cacciacarne and Ali Schinko.

In addition to the goals scored, the entire team played spectacular defense, not allowing the Aggies to score once throughout the match. Any time it seemed that Utah State was making a run or gaining momentum, the defense stepped up to put pressure on the ball and retake possession.

The game ended in a display of flashing lights on the field and a chorus of cheers. The Utes needed confidence from this game heading into the rest of the season, and getting a dominant win at home was a great way to begin that process.

The game will hopefully serve as a catalyst for the remainder of the season. At least, that’s what Coach Manning is hoping for.

“We were really hoping to bounce back from last weekend. The team is also looking forward to continued play at the new field,” Coach Manning said, “Another thing that’s going on is making this our home. We hadn’t been on this field until Tuesday … They did a great job getting the last touches done the last 30 days.”

The Utes played their second home game of the season on Sunday against Cal Poly.  They walked away from that game with a 1-0 victory off of a goal from freshman Courtney Talbot.

Utah led the game with seven shots on goal compared to only three by the Mustangs. The Utes has a total of 16 shots and one assist to complete their stats for the game.

Up next, the Utes will head to Provo to take on Brigham Young University.  The game will be on Friday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m.

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