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Women's Soccer Knocks Off Oregon State

by Utah Athletics
Oct 21, 2021

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah women's soccer team scored two goals late in the first half to defeat Oregon State, 2-1, on Thursday night at Ute Field. Utah scored both goals in one minute and 11 seconds of each other. The win for Utah is the program's 275th win in program history. 
 
Brianna Pearson and Anna Escobedo scored Utah's (6-7-3, 1-4-2, Pac-12) goals. Pearson's goal was her first career goal. The Utes outshot the Beavers (11-4-0, 3-4-0 Pac-12) 10-8 in the match. Utah controlled possession for 59 percent of the game. 
 
"We knew it was going to be a tight match and incredibly proud of our Utes' resiliency to respond within five minutes of giving up a goal and add another goal a minute later to go up on top," head coach Hideki Nakada stated. "We've been playing well, and results have been hard to come by, so I am happy for our players to get a result they've been working so hard for. We are excited for another great challenge against a quality opponent on Sunday."
 
Utah controlled play early in the first half of the match as they had the game's first three shots. Two of the three shots were on goal by Bridgette Skiba recorded two early saves. 
 
Oregon State slowly mounted an offensive attack midway through the first half. The Utes defense forced the Beavers to not get a shot on goal until the 36' minute of the match. After a goal kick, the Utes and Beavers were battling for a loose ball, and Aidan Brown came away with the ball and moved downfield. She took a shot from deep and scored, making it 1-0 Oregon State. 
 
Utah did not let the lead last long as they got on the offensive attack again. Ali Schinko had a shot on goal that was saved. After a Beaver foul set up a free-kick for Utah, Brianna Pearson found the ball that bounced around the box and headed the ball home tying the match at 1-1. This was Pearson's first collegiate goal. 

 
A minute went off the clock before the Utes would score again. Anna Escobedo tried to send a cross into the box, but the Beavers were called for a handball, and the Utes had a penalty kick attempt. Escobedo lined up for the PK and scored, making it 2-1 in favor of Utah. The Utes took a 2-1 lead into halftime. 
 
The Beavers came out trying to score early in the second half, but Chelsea Peterson was up to the task as she tallied her first save of the night in the 51' minute of the match on a McKenna Martinez shot. Oregon State continued to put pressure on, and Peterson continued to make saves. 
 
Late in the second half, Oregon State had an attack going, but Peterson made an outstanding save, keeping the Utes ahead 2-1. That was the last scoring chance for Oregon State as Utah claimed its first Pac-12 win of the season with a 2-1 win over Oregon State. 

 
The Utes return to action on Sunday when they host Oregon at Ute Field. First kick is set for 12 p.m. MT and will be aired on the Pac-12 Networks. 

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