Soccer Returns Home to Host California

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah women's soccer team returns to Ute Field to host California on Friday at 7 p.m. MT. The match is the first of three straight at home, the longest homestand of the season. 
 

 
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Join us for our Red Out at Ute Field on Friday night. Wear RED and get in FREE to the contest. The first 200 fans at the contest will receive a free red University of Utah shirt.
 
Last Time Out
The last time the Utes took to the field was on Sunday, October 10, when they played then-No. 11 USC. The Utes controlled possession for half the match bet fell short to USC. Utah's Baylie Jackson had a shot on goal in the game as she came off the bench and played 31 minutes. Chelsea Peterson tallied three saves in the match. 
 
Scouting California 
California enters this weekend's matchup with the Utes with a 5-4-3 record and 1-3-1 in Pac-12 play. Cal is on a two-match losing streak as Washington State defeated them, 2-0, and Washington, 1-0, last week. The last win for Cal came on October 3 when they beat Oregon State, 2-1. The Golden Bears are averaging 1.17 goals per game while only allowing 0.92 goals per game. They are outshooting their opponents 15.2 to 8.3 per game. Karlie Lema leads the team with four goals. The freshman from Morgan Hill, Calif., Hasn't scored since September 25 against Colorado. Sydney Collins leads the Golden Bears in assists with four. In goal for Cal, Angelina Anderson has started all but one match. She has a goal-against average of 0.86 on the season and has 20 saves. Anderson's goals-against-average is the sixth-best in the Pac-12. 
 
Drawing Against UCLA
For the first time since the 2016 season, the Utes recorded a point against UCLA. Utah played then-No. 3 UCLA to a 1-1 double-overtime draw. Chelsea Peterson came up huge in the matchup as she tallied seven saves, including saving a PK in overtime. Utah's Courtney Talbot scored her fourth goal of the season. This goal came in the 41' minute of the game. 
 
Last Year Against Cal 
Last season, the Utes traveled to Berkeley, California, to take on the Golden Bears. Utah came up short in the match as they were defeated 1-0. Entering the matchup, Cal was ranked 10th in the nation and scored the winning goal in the 38' minute of the match. Utah and Cal were locked even with shots at 13. Utah held an advantage of shots on goal, 5-3. 
 
All-Time Against Cal
The Utes are looking for their second all-time win against Cal on Friday night. Entering the matchup, Utah is 1-9-3 all-time when facing California. The lone win for Utah came during the 2018 season when the Utes came away with a 2-1 win at Cal. Makayla Christensen and Paola Van Der Veen scored for Utah in the match. 
 
Playing at Ute Field
Utah enters this weekend's matchup with Cal holding a 3-2-2 mark at Ute Field. Utah played Washington to a 1-1 double-overtime draw in the last home match for Utah. The last win for Utah at home came on September 12 when they defeated Dixie State. Since the beginning of the 2017 season, Utah has won 19 home matches. 
 
Kaufusi and Talbot Leading the Way
This season, Taliana Kaufusi and Courtney Talbot are leading the team in scoring with four goals each. Either Kaufusi or Talbot has scored seven of the last nine goals for Utah dating back to September 2. The last time another player scored for Utah was on September 12, when Brooklyn James and Makayla Christensen scored against Dixie State. 
 
Talbot Continues to Shine
Junior captain Courtney Talbot continues to shine on the field this season for the Utes. She has set career-highs in goals (4) and points (9). Her fourth goal of the season came in the 41' minute against then-No. 3 UCLA. Talbot is one of two players with four goals on the season for Utah. Her nine points leads the team. 
 
Team Academic Award
On September 23, the Utah women's soccer team continued its off-field academic success. They earned the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award for the 12th-consecutive season and the 20th overall award since the award began in 1996. Utah was one of eight schools in the Pac-12 to receive this honor, and the Utes GPA of 3.70 was the highest of Pac-12 schools on the list. 
 
Matches Against Ranked Teams 
This past weekend, Utah played its fourth match against a ranked opponent this season. Utah is 0-2-2 in games against nationally-ranked teams. Utah came away with a tie-over then-No. 3 UCLA on October 7. The other tie for Utah this season came against No. 22 Brigham Young. Looking at the Coaches' Top 25 released on Tuesday, Utah could play three more ranked teams this season starting next week with Oregon State. 
 
Next Up
Utah returns to Ute Field on Thursday, October 21, and October 24, welcoming Oregon State and Oregon to Salt Lake City. Utah will face Oregon State at 7 p.m. MT on Thursday before facing Oregon at 12 p.m. MT on Sunday.