The University of Utah women’s soccer team showcased resilience and offensive firepower in its last two matches, first battling back to earn a 1-1 draw against Utah State in Logan Aug. 28 before returning home to defeat NC State 3-0 at Ute Field in Salt Lake City Aug. 31.
The Utes own a 3-1-1 record through five contests this season.
Thursday’s match against the Aggies saw Utah dominate possession from the opening minutes. The Utes forced three corner kicks in the first three minutes and finished the half with six total, doing as much as they could to press the goalie. Despite the early pressure, it was Utah State that struck first. In the 28th minute, a foul against Utah led to a free kick, Ellie Hendrix connected and sent it past the keeper for a 1-0 Aggie lead.
Utah thought they had an equalizer in the second half when Ali Swensen put the ball in the net, but the play was ruled offside. Persistence finally paid off in the 72nd minute when Lilliah Blum chased down a ball in the left corner, beat her defender and sent a strike into the net for her second goal of the season. The Utes nearly took the lead in the 87th minute on a shot from Kelly Bullock, but the attempt sailed just wide. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
“I am proud of the fight we showed,” said head coach Hideki Nakada. “Lilliah scored a fantastic goal and was dominant down the wing all evening. We controlled the game and dictated possession, just as we have in every match so far. While I am pleased with the performance, I am disappointed we are not sitting at 4-0 after tonight. The positive is that we are playing really well. Now it is about being more clinical in the final third and tightening things up defensively.”
Utah wasted no time making adjustments in its return to Ute Field against an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponent on Sunday. Nearly 10 minutes into the match, Blum struck again, continuing her hot scoring run. Off a goal kick, Grace Watkins won a header that sent Bullock forward, and her pass set up Blum for a left-footed shot that bounced in off the post. It was Blum’s third consecutive match with a goal, making her the first Ute to do so since Ireland Dunn in the 2019 season.
The lead held until the second half, when Utah pulled away. In the 73rd minute, Bella Woods delivered a well-placed cross on a free kick and Swensen redirected the ball into the net for her first goal with the Utes. Just five minutes later, sophomore Rylan Park joined the scoresheet with her first career goal as well. After a clearance from the NC State defense, Park gathered the ball 10 yards outside the penalty area and sent a right-footed strike past the diving keeper for a 3-0 lead.
“Tonight was a great team performance,” Nakada said. “We wanted to capitalize on our early chances and Lilliah gave us the perfect start. Ali scored a great goal off Bella’s ball, and Rylan, who was outstanding defensively, was rewarded with a wonderful strike. I am also very proud of Erin in goal and our back line for earning the shutout.”
Goalkeeper Erin Gibbs stopped the only shot on target she faced, and the Ute defense held the Wolfpack scoreless, securing Utah’s second clean sheet of the season.
The Utes will now prepare for a road test in Seattle this Thursday, Sept. 4 against an undefeated Washington team. They will be back at Ute Field on Sunday, Sept. 7 to host Louisiana State University at 1 p.m. MDT.
