Upcoming Event: Soccer versus Utah Tech on September 11, 2025 at 7 p.m.
7 p.m.
Soccer
vs Utah Tech
Thursday, August 28
Logan, UT
7 p.m.
University of Utah
at
Utah State
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Midfielder/Defender
/ Soccer
Photo by: Anna Fuder/Utah Athletics
Aggies, Wolfpack Present Familiar Challenge for Utah Soccer
8/26/2025 1:01 PM | Soccer
Utes to visit Logan on Thursday before hosting N.C. State
SALT LAKE CITY – After a week of rest, the University of Utah women's soccer team is preparing to dive back into its non-conference schedule, the next portion of which will pit Hideki Nakada's team against two squads they've encountered in the recent past.
On Thursday, the Utes will renew acquaintances with the Utah State Aggies in a 7 p.m. fixture at Chuck and Gloria Bell Soccer Field in Logan, Utah. That will be followed by a Sunday evening showdown at Ute Field in which will pit Utah against the N.C. State Wolfpack at 7 p.m. in Salt Lake City.
Last Time Out
On Aug. 21, the Utes took the field at home for the first time in 2025 and emerged as 4-0 victors over the Westminster Griffins. This marked the fourth time in five seasons under Nakada that Utah earned a win in its home opener.
Among those who played a starring role in the triumph was freshman Shannon Davidson, who got the scoring started in the 12th minute with her first collegiate goal, then added another in the 83rd minute. Lilliah Blum and Sophie Bellini joined Davidson on the scoresheet, each scoring off assists from Ali Swensen, who ended the night with two points to her credit.
In goal, the Utes made sure it was an uneventful night for Emeline McClenahan, but the freshman keeper did her part to maintain a clean sheet, blocking both shots that came her way, including a diving stop in the 36th minute.
Scouting the Aggies
Utah and Utah State are two programs that are very familiar with each other and Thursday's affair will mark the 27th time they've met. Utah State earned a 2-0 triumph when the sides met in Salt Lake City in 2024, but the Utes have had the recent edge when the teams have squared off in Logan. In each of the last five fixtures in the rivalry at USU's home field, the visitors have come out on top, with the most recent example being a 1-0 final in 2023.
Coach Manny Martins is in his fifth season of steering the ship in Logan and his team is coming off one of the most successful campaigns in school history in which they stacked up 18 wins and repeated as conference tournament champions. They also returned five All-Mountain West Conference performers, including first-team all-league pick Tess Werts, and those returners combined with the team's recent success led to the Aggies being picked to capture their third straight MWC title.
The start to USU's season has included a pair of shutouts, starting with a 1-0 victory over Washington State. Their most recent outing was a scoreless draw against Kansas in which goalkeeper Taylor Rath totaled four saves. Rath has made eight stops in nine tries so far in her senior year and owns a 0.33 goals-against average.
Scouting the Wolfpack
Utah and N.C. State have a much shorter series history, but the programs met for the first time just two years ago when they began 2023 by battling in Raleigh. That evening ended with a 1-1 tie that included Bella Woods' first collegiate goal, a 73rd minute rocket that provided the final tally of the evening.
The 2025 edition of the Wolfpack is being guided by a new head coach. Gary Higgins is in his first season leading the program and brings with him a resume that includes conference championships at both of his previous stops. In seven years at Lenoir-Rhyne, his alma mater, Higgins led the Bears to two regular season and one tournament title, as well as a trip to the Final Four in 2021. Most recently, he coached the East Carolina Pirates to a American Athletic Conference tournament title in 2024.
So far in 2025, Higgins' and his charges are still searching for their first entry into the win column. They did manage a 1-1 tie with ECU on Aug. 17 thanks to a game-tying goal from Antonella Mazziotto in the 71st minute and six saves by Olivia Pratapas.
Senior Class
The Utes have plenty of experience on their roster, which includes seven seniors, Erin Gibbs, Brooklyn Blaylock, Alex Schoenstadt, Kelly Bullock, Ryann Cull, Sophie Bellini and Ali Swensen, and three graduate students, Devi Dudley, Grace Watkins and Ava Hetzel.
Blaylock, Bullock and Cull are all entering their fourth season at Utah and have appeared in 158 total matches during their collegiate careers. Blaylock and Cull have been fixtures on the back line for the Utes, combining for 78 starts, while Bullock is coming off an all-conference season and will add to her total of 52 starts from 2022-24.
Schoenstadt came to Salt Lake City in time for the start of the 2023 season and will be back in action after an injury knocked her out for 2024. Gibbs, Dudley, Watkins and Hetzel are all in their second year with the Utes while Swensen and Bellini will be in their initial Utah campaign.
New Utes
Bellini and Swensen are two of 12 new players Hideki Nakada added to his roster during the offseason, a group comprised of two seniors, one sophomore and nine freshman. Malaspina is the newest addition to the goalkeeper room after starting her career at UC Colorado Springs and defender Madison Encinas also came out of the portal after spending a redshirt year at Baylor.
From the prep ranks, the Utes added goalkeeper Emeline McClenahan, defender Reese Kennel, midfielder and defender Mimi Yamamoto, midfielders Shannon Davidson, Eliza Smith and Addison Lockerby and forwards Julia Oka and Abby Affleck.
Oh Captains, My Captains
Utah will be led by its three graduate students this season. Devi Dudley, Grace Watkins and Ava Hetzel will serve as the team's three captains during the 2025 campaign. The trio has combined to play in 204 collegiate games entering this season.
Coaches Corner
Last season, head coach Hideki Nakada hired a pair of new assistant coaches in Travis Smith and Jackie Poortinga. The two return for their second seasons with Utah in 2025 and will be joined by new assistant coach Sam Gomez.
Gomez brings with him a wealth of experience that includes time as the Girls Director of Coaching at the Utah Athletic Academy and head coach of the girls soccer team at Highland High School. Gomez has also honed his skills as a coach at Port Orchard FC, Impact United and Kitsap Alliance FC.
Prior to moving into the coaching ranks, he played professionally in the Honduran 1st Division with Real CD Espana, as well as with San Diego 1904 FC in the NISA. This followed a collegiate career at Cal State University Bakersfield, where he was an academic all-conference selection and earned a degree in Kinesiology.
NCAA Tournament History
The Utes enter 2025 aiming to reach the NCAA Tournament for the ninth time in school history and the first time since 2019. Utah put together its best postseason finish in 2016, when they forged a path all the way to the Sweet 16.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @UtahWSoccer | Instagram: @UtahWSoccer | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utahwsoccer).
On Thursday, the Utes will renew acquaintances with the Utah State Aggies in a 7 p.m. fixture at Chuck and Gloria Bell Soccer Field in Logan, Utah. That will be followed by a Sunday evening showdown at Ute Field in which will pit Utah against the N.C. State Wolfpack at 7 p.m. in Salt Lake City.
| THURSDAY'S MATCHUP Date | Time: Thursday, Aug. 28 | 7:00 p.m. (MT) Utah (2-1-0) vs. Utah State (1-1-1) Location: Logan, Utah | Chuck and Gloria Bell Soccer Field Live Stats: Click Here Live Stream: Mountain West Network Twitter Updates: @UtahWSoccer |
SATURDAY'S MATCHUP Date | Time: Saturday, Aug. 31 | 7:00 p.m. (MT) Utah (2-1-0) vs. N.C. State (0-3-1) Location: Salt Lake City | Ute Field Live Stats: Click Here Live Stream: ESPN+ Twitter Updates: @UtahWSoccer |
Last Time Out
On Aug. 21, the Utes took the field at home for the first time in 2025 and emerged as 4-0 victors over the Westminster Griffins. This marked the fourth time in five seasons under Nakada that Utah earned a win in its home opener.
Among those who played a starring role in the triumph was freshman Shannon Davidson, who got the scoring started in the 12th minute with her first collegiate goal, then added another in the 83rd minute. Lilliah Blum and Sophie Bellini joined Davidson on the scoresheet, each scoring off assists from Ali Swensen, who ended the night with two points to her credit.
In goal, the Utes made sure it was an uneventful night for Emeline McClenahan, but the freshman keeper did her part to maintain a clean sheet, blocking both shots that came her way, including a diving stop in the 36th minute.
Scouting the Aggies
Utah and Utah State are two programs that are very familiar with each other and Thursday's affair will mark the 27th time they've met. Utah State earned a 2-0 triumph when the sides met in Salt Lake City in 2024, but the Utes have had the recent edge when the teams have squared off in Logan. In each of the last five fixtures in the rivalry at USU's home field, the visitors have come out on top, with the most recent example being a 1-0 final in 2023.
Coach Manny Martins is in his fifth season of steering the ship in Logan and his team is coming off one of the most successful campaigns in school history in which they stacked up 18 wins and repeated as conference tournament champions. They also returned five All-Mountain West Conference performers, including first-team all-league pick Tess Werts, and those returners combined with the team's recent success led to the Aggies being picked to capture their third straight MWC title.
The start to USU's season has included a pair of shutouts, starting with a 1-0 victory over Washington State. Their most recent outing was a scoreless draw against Kansas in which goalkeeper Taylor Rath totaled four saves. Rath has made eight stops in nine tries so far in her senior year and owns a 0.33 goals-against average.
Scouting the Wolfpack
Utah and N.C. State have a much shorter series history, but the programs met for the first time just two years ago when they began 2023 by battling in Raleigh. That evening ended with a 1-1 tie that included Bella Woods' first collegiate goal, a 73rd minute rocket that provided the final tally of the evening.
The 2025 edition of the Wolfpack is being guided by a new head coach. Gary Higgins is in his first season leading the program and brings with him a resume that includes conference championships at both of his previous stops. In seven years at Lenoir-Rhyne, his alma mater, Higgins led the Bears to two regular season and one tournament title, as well as a trip to the Final Four in 2021. Most recently, he coached the East Carolina Pirates to a American Athletic Conference tournament title in 2024.
So far in 2025, Higgins' and his charges are still searching for their first entry into the win column. They did manage a 1-1 tie with ECU on Aug. 17 thanks to a game-tying goal from Antonella Mazziotto in the 71st minute and six saves by Olivia Pratapas.
Senior Class
The Utes have plenty of experience on their roster, which includes seven seniors, Erin Gibbs, Brooklyn Blaylock, Alex Schoenstadt, Kelly Bullock, Ryann Cull, Sophie Bellini and Ali Swensen, and three graduate students, Devi Dudley, Grace Watkins and Ava Hetzel.
Blaylock, Bullock and Cull are all entering their fourth season at Utah and have appeared in 158 total matches during their collegiate careers. Blaylock and Cull have been fixtures on the back line for the Utes, combining for 78 starts, while Bullock is coming off an all-conference season and will add to her total of 52 starts from 2022-24.
Schoenstadt came to Salt Lake City in time for the start of the 2023 season and will be back in action after an injury knocked her out for 2024. Gibbs, Dudley, Watkins and Hetzel are all in their second year with the Utes while Swensen and Bellini will be in their initial Utah campaign.
New Utes
Bellini and Swensen are two of 12 new players Hideki Nakada added to his roster during the offseason, a group comprised of two seniors, one sophomore and nine freshman. Malaspina is the newest addition to the goalkeeper room after starting her career at UC Colorado Springs and defender Madison Encinas also came out of the portal after spending a redshirt year at Baylor.
From the prep ranks, the Utes added goalkeeper Emeline McClenahan, defender Reese Kennel, midfielder and defender Mimi Yamamoto, midfielders Shannon Davidson, Eliza Smith and Addison Lockerby and forwards Julia Oka and Abby Affleck.
Oh Captains, My Captains
Utah will be led by its three graduate students this season. Devi Dudley, Grace Watkins and Ava Hetzel will serve as the team's three captains during the 2025 campaign. The trio has combined to play in 204 collegiate games entering this season.
Coaches Corner
Last season, head coach Hideki Nakada hired a pair of new assistant coaches in Travis Smith and Jackie Poortinga. The two return for their second seasons with Utah in 2025 and will be joined by new assistant coach Sam Gomez.
Gomez brings with him a wealth of experience that includes time as the Girls Director of Coaching at the Utah Athletic Academy and head coach of the girls soccer team at Highland High School. Gomez has also honed his skills as a coach at Port Orchard FC, Impact United and Kitsap Alliance FC.
Prior to moving into the coaching ranks, he played professionally in the Honduran 1st Division with Real CD Espana, as well as with San Diego 1904 FC in the NISA. This followed a collegiate career at Cal State University Bakersfield, where he was an academic all-conference selection and earned a degree in Kinesiology.
NCAA Tournament History
The Utes enter 2025 aiming to reach the NCAA Tournament for the ninth time in school history and the first time since 2019. Utah put together its best postseason finish in 2016, when they forged a path all the way to the Sweet 16.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @UtahWSoccer | Instagram: @UtahWSoccer | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utahwsoccer).
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