Utes Take Down Arizona 2-1 In Women's Soccer

Sunday, September 3

Salt Lake City, Utah

1:00 PM

University of Utah

Arizona (Utah Fall Classic)

9/3/2006 12:00 AM | Soccer

Sept. 3, 2006

Final Stats | Quotes

SALT LAKE CITY - If the Utes were members of the Pac-10 Conference, they would be in contention for the league championship with an undefeated record.

Utah, ranked 24th in the nation by Soccer Times, got its third win Sunday afternoon in three tries against Pac-10 teams this season, downing Arizona 2-1 at Ute Field.

After getting a win over No. 19 Stanford last weekend, the Utes also defeated Washington State 2-1 in double overtime on Friday night, hosting the Utah Fall Classic this weekend to open their home schedule. Utah improved its record to 3-1, while Arizona fell to 2-2.

Senior goalkeeper Ashley Mason was sensational for the Utes on Sunday, making six saves and shaking off a collision late in the second half. The only score Utah allowed was an own goal.

Melissa Wayman accounted for a first half goal and Chelsea Card knocked in the game-winner. The Utes outshot Arizona 17-10, avenging a pair of losses to the Wildcats last season.

Utah opened the scoring in the 21st minute on a set piece. Freshman Kelly Isleib placed the ball on the right side of the field 30 yards out. Wayman received the serve in tight, slotting the ball toward the lower left corner of the net. It was the first goal of the season for the senior midfielder.

The game was tied up when Arizona's Macke Mutz put the ball in play from the right sideline, arcing it into the box. Melissa Crespo misplayed it back to Ashley Mason, who couldn't react in time as the ball trickled past her to the right.

Jen Christoffers had three good looks at the frame but came up empty. Her shot from 25 yards away with 10:38 left in the first half sailed high. She also stole the ball away from an Arizona defender in the first minute of the second half for a one-on-one opportunity with Wildcat keeper Chelsea McIntyre. Her shot from 10 yards away was denied for one of McIntire's four saves. Christoffers also had a good look from 35 yards out with 35 and a half minutes left, sending the shot just wide left.

The Utes scored the deciding goal in the 62nd minute. McKenzie Joyner tracked down a ball on the right side of the attacking third and passed it to Whitney Dorsey. Dorsey flicked it up to Card, who made a 10-yard shot for her first goal of the season.

Arizona then cranked up the intensity offensively. Jasmine Namdar got a header off of a Kaity Heath corner that was saved by Mason with 25 and a half minutes remaining.

Then the Wildcats possessed the ball for a three-minute stretch with 18 minutes to play. A shot by Lindsay Lum on a wide-open look sailed high. London King's shot from close range was blocked. Mason then smothered a tight cross just in front of the goal, and forced a stoppage in play when she was shaken up.

Fortunately, Mason was able to stay in the game and would later make the save of the day. With nine and half minutes left, Namdar's scorching penalty kick from the middle of the field was swallowed up by the Ute keeper, thwarting the Wildcat's best scoring chance of the day at a critical juncture in the game.

Utah plays two more home games next weekend, hosting Fresno State on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Colorado on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.