Upcoming Event: Soccer at TCU on September 19, 2025 at 6 p.m.
6 p.m.
Soccer
at TCU
Thursday, August 22
Clemson, S.C.
5:00 PM
University of Utah
at
Clemson
Photo by: Steve C. Wilson
Utah Soccer Starts 2019 Season This Weekend
8/20/2019 11:15 AM | Soccer
Utah at Clemson
Date: Thursday, August 22
Location: Clemson, S.C.
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Live Stream:Â ACCNX or ESPN.com/watch
Live Stats: ClemsonTigers.com Utah at Alabama
Date: Sunday, August 25
Location: Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Kickoff: 1 p.m. CT
Live Stream: SEC Network Plus or ESPN.com/watch
Live Stats: RollTide.com KICKOFF
Utah Soccer opens the 2019 season with a pair of road games. The Utes begin their campaign Thursday night at Clemson with kick-off scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. They then travel to Alabama for a Sunday after-noon contest against the Crimson Tide.
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QUICK KICKS
•     Utah is receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll and sits 35th nationally
•     Utah shut out four Pac-12 opponents in a row last season, the longest scoreless streak for a Ute defense since 2006
•     The Utes notched some significant program firsts in 2018 with their first win in Tempe (2-0 at ASU), first win in Boulder, (1-0 vs. No. 21 CU), and first win ever vs. Cal (2-1 in Berkeley)
•     The win at CU was Utah's first true road win over a ranked opponent since 2007
•     After being selected ninth in the Pac-12's preseason poll, the Utes finished fourth, its second-best finish since joining the conference in 2011.
•     This was the best finish for a Pac-12 team to miss the tournament since Oregon was the conference runner-up in 2006.
•     Since joining the Pac-12 in 2011, the Utes have had the two best finishes in conference play of any team to not be selected to the NCAA Tournament; 2018 and 2011, when they finished fifth
•     Utah started 18 different players, with 15 of them returning this season, and used 13 contrasting lineups
•     Four returners started every game last season; Holly Daugirda, Haylee Cacciacarne, Hailey Stodden and Carly Nelson
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DUNN DOING WORK
After one point in her first two seasons (40 games), Ireland Dunn broke out during her junior campaign with 16 points, second most on the team. In Pac-12 play, she led the league with six helpers and ranked ninth in points
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She became the first Utah player with at least five assists in conference play since Kelly Isleib in 2008 and her seven assists were the most by an Ute since Isleib's school record 13 in 2007.
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NELSON IN NET
Carly Nelson, a two-time Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week (10/9 and 11/6) made 92 saves last season, the most of any goalkeeper in the Pac-12. She started every game and played a career-high 1,698 minutes, earning eight shutouts, fourth most in the Pac-12.
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The senior made a career-high 11 saves in a tie with No. 2 USC and had another double-digit outing (10) in a shutout win at No. 21 Colorado. She needs 97 saves to move into to the top five all-time at Utah and two shutouts would move her into fourth place, passing Courtney Hills-McBeth (1999-2002)
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STODDEN STEPS UP
Hailey Stodden was named to the Pac-12's All-Freshmen Team last season after starting every game for Utah, mainly as an outside back. She helped stabilize a defense that lost its two center backs to injury midway through conference play and still managed to register six shutouts.
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The Broomfield, Colorado native scored the winner in the season finale at No. 21 CU. The first goal of her career helped the Utes to its first true road win over a Top 25 team since 2007.
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SERIES HISTORY
Utah plays Clemson for the first time and enters 1-2 all-time against teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Utes lost 2-1 at No.11 Duke during the 2017 season and beat No. 10 Florida State in the 2016 NCAA Tournament. Utah's previous visit to the Palmetto State resulted in a win at South Carolina during the 2000 season
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The Utes and Crimson Tide will also meet for the first time with the visitors owning a 4-7-1 mark against teams from the Southeastern Conference. The last games against foes from the SEC occurred in 2013 when Utah tied Kentucky in Lexington and fell at No. 13 Texas A&M in the NCAA Tournament. The last win for the Utes was during the 2003 season when it beat No. 2 Florida, 1-0 in SLC and the last road victory was in 2000 when they topped Georgia, 3-2 in Athens
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UTAH TABBED EIGHTH IN PRESEASON POLL
The University of Utah soccer team was picked to finish eighth in the Pac-12 Conference this season, according to a preseason poll of the league's coaches. The Utes return 15 players who started a game last season as the team placed fourth in the Pac-12 behind three squads that finished the year ranked in the Top 10 nationally.
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The league's coaches picked Stanford to win the 2019 Pac-12 women's soccer crown and UCLA to finish second. The Cardinal played the Bruins in the 2017 national championship game and the two teams rank third and fourth respectively in the national polls to open the season. USC, the 2016 national champion, is ranked No. 5 nationally and slotted third in the Pac-12. Washington State (29 votes), Colorado (13), California (10), Arizona (37) and Arizona State (5) are all receiving votes in the preseason national rankings, along with the Utes (29)
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UTES RACK UP ACADEMIC AWARDS
 Utah Soccer placed a record three student-athletes on the Pac-12 All-Academic First Team and had 12 Utes recognized by the conference due to their academic success last season.
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Natalie Kump (3.99, Chemistry) was recognized for the first time, making the First Team. Jessica Hixson (3.87, Human Development and Family Studies) was the only Utah player selected to the second team and it was also her first conference honor.
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Eight student-athletes received honorable mention status. Haylee Cacciacarne, Holly Daugirda, Ireland Dunn, Kristin Fairbairn, Aleea Gwerder and Carly Nelson made an all-academic team for a second time and Tatum Thornton also picked up her first academic accolade from the conference.
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FRESHMEN TO KEEP AN EYE ON
Kylee Geis, a midfielder from Boise was the 5A Idaho State Player of the Year and an IMG Academy Top 100 player. She led Borah High School to a conference championship and scored 35 goals while dishing out 47 assists. Geis was also named to the Elite Clubs National League Northwest All-Conference Team and was a member of the ECNL National Training Camp after helping her team claim a US Club Regional championship
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Payton McBride, a defender and high school teammate of Geis' was named First Team SIC All-Conference and helped FC Nova capture a ECNL conference championship. For her play, she was invited to the ECNL Northwest PDP and earned an IMG Academy Top 150 selection. She was also a state finalist in the 400 meters for track and defensive player of the year in basketball.
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Courtney Talbot, a midfielder from West Haven was named Deseret News All-State and led Fremont High School to a state cup championships. She also played with teammate Sidney Roberts at La Roca. The local club team has also produced current Utes Haylee Cacciacarne, Lulu Borges and Anna Escobedo.
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Ali Schinko, a midfielder from Baden-Württemberg, Germany, was one of the youngest players on her TSG 1899 Hoffenheim team as it captured consecutive 2nd Bundesliga Sud titles. Prior to that she netted 42 goals in two seasons with the Hoffenheim youth team and was the team captain as her side was crowned champion of south Germany.
Date: Thursday, August 22
Location: Clemson, S.C.
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Live Stream:Â ACCNX or ESPN.com/watch
Live Stats: ClemsonTigers.com Utah at Alabama
Date: Sunday, August 25
Location: Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Kickoff: 1 p.m. CT
Live Stream: SEC Network Plus or ESPN.com/watch
Live Stats: RollTide.com KICKOFF
Utah Soccer opens the 2019 season with a pair of road games. The Utes begin their campaign Thursday night at Clemson with kick-off scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. They then travel to Alabama for a Sunday after-noon contest against the Crimson Tide.
Â
QUICK KICKS
•     Utah is receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll and sits 35th nationally
•     Utah shut out four Pac-12 opponents in a row last season, the longest scoreless streak for a Ute defense since 2006
•     The Utes notched some significant program firsts in 2018 with their first win in Tempe (2-0 at ASU), first win in Boulder, (1-0 vs. No. 21 CU), and first win ever vs. Cal (2-1 in Berkeley)
•     The win at CU was Utah's first true road win over a ranked opponent since 2007
•     After being selected ninth in the Pac-12's preseason poll, the Utes finished fourth, its second-best finish since joining the conference in 2011.
•     This was the best finish for a Pac-12 team to miss the tournament since Oregon was the conference runner-up in 2006.
•     Since joining the Pac-12 in 2011, the Utes have had the two best finishes in conference play of any team to not be selected to the NCAA Tournament; 2018 and 2011, when they finished fifth
•     Utah started 18 different players, with 15 of them returning this season, and used 13 contrasting lineups
•     Four returners started every game last season; Holly Daugirda, Haylee Cacciacarne, Hailey Stodden and Carly Nelson
Â
DUNN DOING WORK
After one point in her first two seasons (40 games), Ireland Dunn broke out during her junior campaign with 16 points, second most on the team. In Pac-12 play, she led the league with six helpers and ranked ninth in points
Â
She became the first Utah player with at least five assists in conference play since Kelly Isleib in 2008 and her seven assists were the most by an Ute since Isleib's school record 13 in 2007.
Â
NELSON IN NET
Carly Nelson, a two-time Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week (10/9 and 11/6) made 92 saves last season, the most of any goalkeeper in the Pac-12. She started every game and played a career-high 1,698 minutes, earning eight shutouts, fourth most in the Pac-12.
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The senior made a career-high 11 saves in a tie with No. 2 USC and had another double-digit outing (10) in a shutout win at No. 21 Colorado. She needs 97 saves to move into to the top five all-time at Utah and two shutouts would move her into fourth place, passing Courtney Hills-McBeth (1999-2002)
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STODDEN STEPS UP
Hailey Stodden was named to the Pac-12's All-Freshmen Team last season after starting every game for Utah, mainly as an outside back. She helped stabilize a defense that lost its two center backs to injury midway through conference play and still managed to register six shutouts.
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The Broomfield, Colorado native scored the winner in the season finale at No. 21 CU. The first goal of her career helped the Utes to its first true road win over a Top 25 team since 2007.
Â
SERIES HISTORY
Utah plays Clemson for the first time and enters 1-2 all-time against teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Utes lost 2-1 at No.11 Duke during the 2017 season and beat No. 10 Florida State in the 2016 NCAA Tournament. Utah's previous visit to the Palmetto State resulted in a win at South Carolina during the 2000 season
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The Utes and Crimson Tide will also meet for the first time with the visitors owning a 4-7-1 mark against teams from the Southeastern Conference. The last games against foes from the SEC occurred in 2013 when Utah tied Kentucky in Lexington and fell at No. 13 Texas A&M in the NCAA Tournament. The last win for the Utes was during the 2003 season when it beat No. 2 Florida, 1-0 in SLC and the last road victory was in 2000 when they topped Georgia, 3-2 in Athens
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UTAH TABBED EIGHTH IN PRESEASON POLL
The University of Utah soccer team was picked to finish eighth in the Pac-12 Conference this season, according to a preseason poll of the league's coaches. The Utes return 15 players who started a game last season as the team placed fourth in the Pac-12 behind three squads that finished the year ranked in the Top 10 nationally.
Â
The league's coaches picked Stanford to win the 2019 Pac-12 women's soccer crown and UCLA to finish second. The Cardinal played the Bruins in the 2017 national championship game and the two teams rank third and fourth respectively in the national polls to open the season. USC, the 2016 national champion, is ranked No. 5 nationally and slotted third in the Pac-12. Washington State (29 votes), Colorado (13), California (10), Arizona (37) and Arizona State (5) are all receiving votes in the preseason national rankings, along with the Utes (29)
Â
UTES RACK UP ACADEMIC AWARDS
 Utah Soccer placed a record three student-athletes on the Pac-12 All-Academic First Team and had 12 Utes recognized by the conference due to their academic success last season.
Â
Natalie Kump (3.99, Chemistry) was recognized for the first time, making the First Team. Jessica Hixson (3.87, Human Development and Family Studies) was the only Utah player selected to the second team and it was also her first conference honor.
Â
Eight student-athletes received honorable mention status. Haylee Cacciacarne, Holly Daugirda, Ireland Dunn, Kristin Fairbairn, Aleea Gwerder and Carly Nelson made an all-academic team for a second time and Tatum Thornton also picked up her first academic accolade from the conference.
Â
FRESHMEN TO KEEP AN EYE ON
Kylee Geis, a midfielder from Boise was the 5A Idaho State Player of the Year and an IMG Academy Top 100 player. She led Borah High School to a conference championship and scored 35 goals while dishing out 47 assists. Geis was also named to the Elite Clubs National League Northwest All-Conference Team and was a member of the ECNL National Training Camp after helping her team claim a US Club Regional championship
Â
Payton McBride, a defender and high school teammate of Geis' was named First Team SIC All-Conference and helped FC Nova capture a ECNL conference championship. For her play, she was invited to the ECNL Northwest PDP and earned an IMG Academy Top 150 selection. She was also a state finalist in the 400 meters for track and defensive player of the year in basketball.
Â
Courtney Talbot, a midfielder from West Haven was named Deseret News All-State and led Fremont High School to a state cup championships. She also played with teammate Sidney Roberts at La Roca. The local club team has also produced current Utes Haylee Cacciacarne, Lulu Borges and Anna Escobedo.
Â
Ali Schinko, a midfielder from Baden-Württemberg, Germany, was one of the youngest players on her TSG 1899 Hoffenheim team as it captured consecutive 2nd Bundesliga Sud titles. Prior to that she netted 42 goals in two seasons with the Hoffenheim youth team and was the team captain as her side was crowned champion of south Germany.
Players Mentioned
Midfielder
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Defender/Midfielder
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Midfielder
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Forward
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Forward
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Forward/Midfielder
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Midfielder
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Defender
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Midfielder
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Midfielder
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Defender
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Goalkeeper
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Defender
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Midfielder
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Defender/Midfielder
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Defender
/ SoccerUtah Soccer's Grace Watkins - ESPN+ Feature
Sunday, September 14
Utah Soccer's Devi Dudley - ESPN+ Feature
Thursday, September 11
Utah Soccer's Ava Hetzel - ESPN+ Feature
Monday, September 08
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Ron McBride
Wednesday, September 03