Utah Soccer Falls to Gonzaga In Season Opener, 2-1

Friday, August 20

Pullman, Wash.

1:00 PM

University of Utah

Gonzaga

Utah Soccer Falls to Gonzaga In Season Opener, 2-1

8/20/2010 12:00 AM | Soccer

Aug. 20, 2010

Box Score

PULLMAN, Wash. - The University of Utah soccer team opened its 2010 season with a 2-1 loss to Gonzaga Friday afternoon in the first match of the Washington State Invitational at Lower South Field.

"For the first game of the year there were some things we did very well," Utah head coach Rich Manning said. "I was pleased with the effort. After falling behind, we battled really hard and scored a nice goal at the beginning of the second half that swung the momentum our way.

"The second Gonzaga goal was just a world-class strike from long range. But after that goal, I was proud of the way we fought back at the end of the game to try and tie it back up."

Utah (0-1) was led offensively by junior Erin Dalley, who registered her 13th career goal at the start of the second half and got off a match-high four shots. Defensively, junior goalkeeper Hannah Turpen made two saves but suffered the loss and fell to 15-11-2 for her career.

Despite Utah holding a 6-5 advantage in shots during the first half, Gonzaga (1-0) opened the scoring in the 13th minute when Sarah Rhodes converted a free kick from the left side of the goal 25 yards out for an unassisted goal to take a 1-0 lead into halftime.

Utah struck back early in the second half when Dalley lifted the scoring lid for Utah at 48:15 as freshman Lexi Krantz delivered a cross through the Gonzaga box that Dalley headed in for her first goal of the season. Krantz earned her first career point after being credited with the assist.

Unfortunately, Gonzaga responded shortly when Rhodes scored again for the Bulldogs in the 65th minute as Cassie Geerdts set Rhodes up for a blast from 35 yards out that hit the net high and stayed inside the far right post.

Utah used 17 players in the game, including freshman Harley Spier, who made her first career start. Other freshmen who played were Jen Ericson, Stacy Fujikuni, Krantz and Leslie Muirhead.

The all-time series between the schools is now even at 2-2-1.

"We played with the right mentality," Manning said. "And I was really proud with how we fought back to try and get back into the game."

Utah will conclude the Washington State Invitational by facing the host Cougars Sunday at 2:30 p.m. MT.