# #

Women’s Soccer Defeats Portland, 3-1

by Utah Athletics
Aug 19, 2021

SALT LAKE CITY – Playing through a rainstorm, the Utah Utes women's soccer team came away with a 3-1 season-opening victory over the University of Portland at Ute Field on Thursday evening.

The Utes had three different players pick up a goal as Eden Jacobsen, Taliana Kaufusi, and Makayla Christensen scored. Opening up the scoring in the contest was the Utes. The win was the first for Utah's head coach Hideki Nakada.

In the sixth minute of the match, Anna Escobedo came up the far side of the field, and the ball rolled to Jacobsen's feet. She settled the ball and went to the upper left corner of the goal, giving Utah the 1-0 lead.

The Pilots looked to answer back over the next few minutes of the contest, but Chelsea Peterson recorded two saves keeping the Utes ahead. Peterson tallied three saves in the first half, and Utah led 3-0 after the first 45 minutes of the game. Fifteen minutes into the second half, the Utes extended their lead to 2-0. Kaufusi found a loose ball about 25 yards from goal and fired a shot to the upper right corner that went in for Utah's second goal of the game.

Late in the contest, Portland forced Utah into a turnover, and the Pilots took advantage. Nedya Sawan took the loose ball and scored, making it a 2-1 game. Utah answered back quickly as they scored 30 seconds later. McKenna Baillie brought the ball down the field and found Christensen going to goal. Christensen took a couple of touches before beating the Pilots goalie to the lower right corner of the goal. Christensen's goal would be the final goal of the contest as Utah won 3-1 over Portland.

Utah returns to the pitch this Sunday, Aug. 22, at 3 p.m. (MT) when it faces Boise State, which will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks.

Related News & Videos