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Utah Soccer Falls in Season-Opener Against #10 BYU

by Utah Athletics
Feb 6, 2021

Box Score (PDF) | Boxscore

HERRIMAN, Utah – The Utah women's soccer team dropped its 2021 spring opener 5-1 to No. 10 BYU at the Zion Bank Training Center Saturday night in Herriman.
 
BYU was on the attack all night and on the Cougars' third shot of the night, Cameron Tucker sent one to the back of the goal in the fourth minute of the game for the early lead. Utah's first goal of the season tied the game at 1-1 after Anna Escobedo was able to sneak it by BYU's goalkeeper on an assist from Hanna Olsen.

 
After Utah's (0-1) goal in the 18th minute, BYU went on a run before halftime and tallied three goals within a matter of 10 minutes to push it to a 4-1 halftime lead in favor of the Cougars. The Utes put up shots by Taliana Kaufusi, Avery Brady and Brianna Pearson, but none managed to get past BYU's Cassidy Smith on the line.
 
Utah tightened up on the defensive side to hold BYU's (1-0) attack early in the second half and give the Ute offense a chance to make up the deficit. Kaufusi took another shot at Smith in the 50th minute before Ali Schinko laced on goal that BYU's keeper was able to snag, leaving the Utes empty handed.

 
The Utah offense continued its offensive attack against the BYU defenders, getting shots from Courtney Talbot and Olsen but neither was able to convert. The Cougars tacked on another goal in the 74th minute on a set piece from Tucker – her third of the night – before time ran out against the Utes.
 
Utah had 10 shots total and four shots on goal to BYU's 16 total and 10 on goal. Chelsea Peterson, who started in the second frame, collected four saves while SJ Edwards picked up one save in her first-career start.
 
Utah soccer will be back in action next Thursday, Feb. 11 when the team heads to St. George, Utah for a game against Dixie State at 4 p.m. MT.

 
NOTABLES

  • Pair of freshmen Utahns in Ragan Fuller (DEF) and Taliana Kaufusi (FOR) made their first-career start Saturday
  • Chelsea Peterson, Erin Bridges, Harper Hughes, Avery Brady and McKenna Baillie all made their collegiate debut Saturday
  • Hanna Olsen's assists was the first in her career
  • Anna Escobedo's was the second of her career

 

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