Upcoming Event: Soccer versus Utah Tech on September 11, 2025 at 7 p.m.
7 p.m.
Soccer
vs Utah Tech
Friday, September 16
Salt Lake City
7:30 PM
University of Utah
1
vs
0
Weber State
Utah Soccer Battles to 1-0 Win Against Weber State
9/16/2011 12:00 AM | Soccer
Sept. 16, 2011
SALT LAKE CITY - Freshman midfielder Avery Ford delivered the game-winning goal for Utah women's soccer (3-4-1) Friday night as the Utes took down Weber State (1-6-0) by a 1-0 score at Ute Field. Ford became the third freshman to score her first career goal this year and the second to register a game winner.
With the scored knotted at 0-0 in the 51st minute of play, Ford collected a Wildcat turnover nearly 35 yards from goal, stepped up and blasted a shot that snuck underneath the crossbar. Ford's goal marks the fourth consecutive scored by a freshman, a run that spans three games.
"I've been working on that shot in practice, so I just had to focus and hit it," said Ford. "It feels really good and it definitely gives me confidence."
Senior goalkeeper Hannah Turpen made a tremendous diving save with less than seven minutes remaining to preserve the win and log her first shutout of the year. Jessie Baddely, arguably Weber State's most dangerous player and a long-range specialist, had stepped up to take a free kick just outside the penalty box and hit a right-footed shot that was well struck, but Turpen was up to the task. Baddley finished with a game-high seven shots.
Turpen finished the game with three saves, while her Weber State counterpart, Ryann Waldman, made four. The Wildcats were also credited with a team save as Utah freshman forward Katie Taylor had gotten past Waldman, only to have her shot cleared away by a scrambling WSU defender.
Wildcat substitute Felicia Sorter also gave her squad two excellent scoring chances but rang the crossbar twice, once in each half. Weber State has now been shut out in five of its six losses on the year, all by 1-0 scores.
Weber State out-shot Utah overall, 17-15, but shots on goal were 6-3 in the Utes' favor. Corner kicks were 6-5 for Utah, while fouls were whistled 8-5 against the Utes.
"Other than the win, I think our biggest positive tonight was that we did a good job finishing the game," said head coach Rich Manning. "We have had trouble finishing games and grinding it out. We have dropped a few at the end this year, but this time we held our lead and did a pretty good job when Weber State was pushing forward trying to get the tying goal. Learning to manage games is something our young team needs to improve on and we took a positive step in that direction tonight."
Utah is back in action Sunday at 1 p.m. as the Utes host Idaho State, who enters the game with a 3-4-2 record after tying New Mexico State on Friday, 1-1.
Players Mentioned
Utah Soccer's Ava Hetzel - ESPN+ Feature
Monday, September 08
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Ron McBride
Wednesday, September 03
Utah Women's Soccer Head Coach Hideki Nakada heads into his 5th year - ESPN+ Feature
Tuesday, September 02
Utah Soccer's Kelly Bullock - ESPN+ Feature
Tuesday, September 02