This Week’s Matchup

Utah soccer opens the 2015 season with a pair of matches against teams from the Big East. The Utes, 8-8-4 last season, are at Marquette (10-8-3) on Friday evening before heading to Chicago to play the nationally-ranked Blue Demons (16-1-4) on Sunday.

Luke Leading the Way

No player has been named Pac-12 Player of the Week more times in Utah history than goalkeeper Lindsey Luke. The five-time honoree is an All-Pac-12 performer and has also been named to the NSCAA All-Region Team.

As she enters her senior season, Luke has received preseason accolades that list her as one of the top goalies in the country. She needs 97 saves and eight shutouts this year to set the career marks in both categories.

Program Progress

The Utes are aiming for the seventh NCAA Tournament appearance and second in three years as it embarks on the 2015 season. After a third-place finish in 2013, its highest ever, the squad slumped to a .500 mark in 2014.

The Utes started last season with an 8-1-1 mark after a draw with No. 4 Stanford opened Pac-12 play. However, Utah lost two significant players to injury and came undone in close games, dropping five one-goal contests in league play

The learning experiences and hardships suffered last season seemed to have hardened the club as it prepares to embark on this new voyage.

Red and White Recap

Utah split sides last Friday as its Red and White teams played to a 2-2 draw in the annual opening scrimmage from Ute Field.

The White team struck first in the 13th minute when Baylee Nielsen headed in a corner for a 1-0 lead. Both teams were able to create chances but neither could capitalize again before halftime.

In the second half, the White team doubled its advantage when sophomore Mariah Elmer fired home for a 2-0 lead. The Red squad got on the board through Katie Rogers and then with less than five minutes to play, Natalie Vukic netted the equalizer.

“Tonight was an exciting start to our journey,” head coach Rich Manning. “I like puzzles, so I love to see the pieces of our team starting to fit together. It was great to see the soccer and teamwork in action. We are looking forward to a good week of training and then it is off to the Midwest for our first challenges.”

Mariah Makes Pac-12 All-Freshman Team

In her first season with the Utes, Mariah Elmer scored three goals, including the game-winner at local foe Utah State. She played in 17 games, starting three, before incurring a late-season injury.

Utah has placed a player on the All-Freshman team all four seasons since joining the Pac-12 as teammates Katie Rogers and Lindsey Luke were also honored after their debut campaigns.

Utah’s New Class

The Utes added eight true freshmen to the team for the 2015 season; Max Flom, Eden Jacobsen, Paige Johnson, Allie Millerberg, Hailey Skolmoski, Shelby Stewart, Liberty Taylor and Paola van der Veen.

Utah Soccer Earns NSCAA Academic Awards

The Utah women’s soccer team earned a NSCAA Team Academic Award for the fifth year in a row and 13th time overall. The award started being handed out in 1996 and the Utes are second among Pac-12 schools (Washington, 14). 

A total of 582 soccer teams over three divisions posted a team grade point average of 3.0 or higher, thereby earning the NSCAA Team Academic Award for the 2013-14 academic year. Utah posted a 3.33 team GPA and was fourth among all Pac-12 teams for the academic year.

Utah had three players, including returnee Katie Rogers, named as NSCAA Women’s University Division Scholar All-West Region honorees.

Scouting this Weekend’s Opposition

DePaul was picked to win the Big East and Marquette was tabbed fourth by the league’s head coaches in the annual preseason poll.

The Golden Eagles, are one of three BIG EAST programs receiving votes in the NSCAA Preseason Poll while DePaul is ranked No. 21, the first time it has ever been ranked prior to the season.

Marquette returns All-Big East midfielder/forward Liz Bartels and defender Morgan Proffitt who were both named to the All-Preseason squad. The Golden Eagles finished fourth in the 2014 regular season standings after reeling off five consecutive regular season titles.

DePaul boasted the most Preseason All-Big East Team selections with four. The Blue Demons are coming off their finest season in program history, claiming the 2014 regular-season and tournament titles along with their third NCAA Championship berth. Big East Rookie of the Year Alexa Ben returns along with all-conference picks Sarah Gorden, Abby Reed and Elise Wyatt. Ben and Reed ranked second and fifth, respectively, in the BIG EAST in points last year.

Series History

This will mark the first time that Utah has played either team.

The Utes are 2-2-0 all-time in the state of Illinois with their last visit occurring in 2006 (4-1 loss at No. 18 Illinois). This will be the first game to be played in Wisconsin in program history.

Utah is 3-0 all-time against opponents from the Big East, owning a pair of wins over Butler and one over Creighton. The Utes have not played a team from the conference in 16 seasons.

Season Ticket Scarves

Season tickets are $20 and come with a Utah Soccer Scarf. Your scarf serves as your season ticket and will get you admission to all home games. All seating is general admission. To get your 2015 season ticket scarf, visit http://utahtickets.com/soccer/#single-games or call 801-581-UTIX.