Christian Stringer: Hi and welcome back to the Home Stretch, the Daily Utah Chronicle sports podcast. My name is Christian, and I will be your host. Today, former soccer player and now producer Brooke Hale will be talking about the women’s soccer team and how they have done so far this season. Hi, Brooke, and welcome to the podcast.
Brooke Hale: Hi, thank you for having me.
Christian Stringer: So Brooke, being a year done with the team, what have you seen with this current team this season?
Brooke Hale: You know I’ve seen a lot of things. Coming off two … I wouldn’t say bad seasons, but we were one or two games [from] almost making it to the tournament. And we’ve had the talent in the past and just haven’t really executed it. I think from watching this season so far there’s been plenty of good things coming from this Ute team. I think they are a lot more confident and they are a lot more aggressive going going into the final third. Scoring has kind of been a struggle in the past … just being consistent with goal scoring and people having that “No. 1” goal scorer. So I think just from seeing this team so far, it’s been a lot [more] aggressive going forward and just a lot of good things which is awesome to see from the Utes.
Christian Stringer: Yeah, absolutely that is awesome to see. So speaking more on the Utes in their season in specific, how was pre season for this Ute squad?
Brooke Hale: Yeah. I mean, there was definitely some ups and downs pre season for the Utes. I mean, that’s how preseason goes. Obviously it’d be nice to have a win every single game. But having those ups and downs … you learn from the team, like what this team can do, and kind of just filling in what people can play in what positions and just kind of figuring that out. And that’s great to have during preseason. You want to have those issues early on in the season. Then going into conference play, still trying to figure out starters and how you want to play and what you want to execute. So I think there were some tough games, especially Utah Valley and LSU — playing at LSU. In my opinion I think those were two games the Utes didn’t really look like the Ute team they usually are. And I think those are just two games you want to win. And again, [in] preseason you obviously want to stack up as many wins as you can, because obviously, as season goes on, games get harder, injuries happen, fatigue … So I think [during] preseason there’s ups and downs for the Utes team, but I think it was definitely a good learning curve for the Utes, especially having so many new players coming — transferring in freshman players kind of having to step in. I think preseason was a good reflection on moving into the season and seeing what they can do.
Christian Stringer: Yeah. So sounds like we had a bit of an up-and-down preseason. Did you see any big changes starting in that preseason, when we went into the conference play, as you mentioned?
Brooke Hale: I saw them find a little bit more of a rhythm. I mean, the Utes coach Nakada, he preaches having the ball, playing possession and wanting to have the ball, and having pride in that. And I think with that, we’ve had a great possession in the past. I think just executing that final third, going to goal, I think that’s what the Utes did a lot better in preseason going into conference play. I think they’re finally figuring out having possession, having a purpose with the ball, going forward and getting into that final third. And I think they were really counting on Taliana Kaufusi and Katie O’Kane, the two fifth-year seniors. They both had hat tricks. Taliana had two hat tricks, which is awesome. You know, they’re really depending on those two players I think in preseason. But I think during preseason, heading into conference play they had other players stepping in and helping those roles out and not just depending on one goal scorer. They’re having multiple people like Bella Woods, Lilliah Blum and Kelly Bullock really step up to the plate going into actual conference play, and they’ve been doing great. It’s great to have multiple goal scorers. That’s what you want out of a soccer team. You want to have multiple people being able to put the ball in the back of the net. So I think it’s been all great things, especially being a former player, it’s exciting to see the things being put together and seeing them be successful.
Christian Stringer: Yeah, no doubt. So it sounds like we’ve been doing a good job of showing off some of our depth this season, as well as focusing on that time of possession. Like you said, what are some other things that you have done well this season?
Brooke Hale: Yeah I mean, I think the defense has done great. There’s been multiple shutouts, which is awesome defense against you know some big teams they’ve played. It’s awesome being a former defender too. Shutouts are awesome. That’s what you want. And I think that starts from Kasey Wardle and goal, she’s been the captain back there, and she’s been very confident and just that leader in the back line, which the Utes need. I mean you need a solid back line to be successful. And again there’s multiple experienced players on the back line. You have Maryn Granger, Rachel Bastone, Ava Hetzel and Brooklyn Blaylock. You know, those are all players that have multiple years of experience, and that’s what you want out of a back line. And Kasey Wardle being a two/three year starter for the Utes … it’s just awesome to see. And I think the Utes have done great defensively, moving forward, kind of into the midfields, forward positions. I think again we kind of touched on it the final third. It’s been a lot better for the Utes. It’s you know kind of just seems like it’s more clicking for them. This year there’s you know some more playmakers, and I think it’s been awesome to see some more craftiness going forward. And I think they’ve just done a lot better as a whole as a team. It seems like they’re clicking a lot better from back to front, front to back, and it’s awesome to see.
Christian Stringer: Nice sounds like good time. And considering we’re going right into the Big 12 tournament, what do you expect from them moving forward as we take on these teams?
Brooke Hale: Yeah, absolutely. I think we should expect them to go into the Big 12 confident they’ve come off some good wins and they go to Colorado this Friday. And you know Colorado is a good, high- ranked team. That will be a good test. I think to go into the Big 12 since they came off some good wins, Colorado is a good competition to end the regular season and see where they’re at, playing a very high, high competition. I think we should see them do very well in the Big 12 tournament. And I think it’s exciting. They’ve never been obviously in this position before, being in the Pac-12, moving into the Big 12 actually having a tournament play postseason is awesome, and that’s what you play for all season, right? You prepare for these games. And I think we should see a very confident Ute team, which is exciting. They deserve it. They have the talent this year, and things are clicking. I think it’s just more the execution. Can they go into Colorado being confident, coming off some good wins, hopefully getting a win on the road and heading into the Big 12 and heading to Kansas and getting those wins. I think it’s very exciting. And I think we should see a very high-attacking Ute team, and again, should see a very strong back line from the Utes. So should be exciting.
Christian Stringer: Yeah, I’m very excited. Way to make a statement Utes, making the Big 12 tournament first year in the conference. I love to see that. Good luck against Colorado. Good luck against Kansas, if we get there, and good luck for the rest of the tournament to the tour girls out there. Well, thank you for sharing your thoughts, Brooke, and thank you all for listening to the Home Stretch, The Daily Utah Chronicle sports podcast. Stay tuned for new episodes coming every other week.
Transcribed by Otter.ai
Host: Christian Stringer — [email protected]
Producer/Guest: Brooke Hale — [email protected] | @brookehale
