Saturday, August 22
Salt Lake City, Utah
3 p.m.
University of Utah
vs
Southern Utah
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Photo by: John Zelinka/Utah Athletics
Utes Back Home for Saturday Scrap with SUU
8/20/2026 9:08 AM | Soccer
Utah aiming for third straight shutout
SALT LAKE CITY – Fresh off their first win of 2026 and with two shutouts already on their ledger, the University of Utah women's soccer team will be trying to keep their positive, season-opening momentum rolling on Saturday, when they host the Southern Utah Thunderbirds at 3 p.m. at Ute Field in Salt Lake City.
Last Time Out
Utah's first win of the season did not come easy, but they persevered to earn a 2-0 decision over Utah Valley on Monday. The Utes spent most of the first 45 minutes fending off pressure from the home team, but the visitors kept their hosts off the scoreboard, thanks in part to a pair of saves from goalkeeper Anna Solomon. Utah also mustered a few late attacks and managed to carry that momentum into the second half.
In the 63rd minute, Reese Clem notched Utah's first goal of 2026 after a perfect through ball into the box from Shannon Davidson set up Julia Oka for a cross that found Clem open in front of the net. Katie Callaway added the clincher in the 82nd minute when a Maddie Stoddard steal set up Callaway to find an open net for her fourth career goal.
Solomon and the back line continued stymying the Wolverines in the second half and held on to the squad's second straight shutout. This marked the fifth time in program history and first time since 2015 Utah has opened a campaign with consecutive clean sheets. Solomon is also one of only two keepers in the Big 12 with two shutouts to her credit so far in 2026.
Scouting Southern Utah
Saturday's skirmish will mark just the third meeting between the Utes and Thunderbirds, who last met in 2013, when the Utes came away with a 6-2 triumph. The first tussle between these programs happened just a year earlier and ended in a 4-0 Utah win.
Through three games in 2026, the Thunderbirds have logged a pair of wins and one defeat. They shook off a season-opening loss to the College of Charleston and posted back-to-back 1-0 victories, first over South Carolina State, then at the expense of The Citadel. Tatum Trout logged five saves across those two clean sheets, including four stops that kept the Bulldogs off the scoreboard.
SUU's offense was consistently on the attack in both wins, piling up 17 shots on goal and outshooting the opposing by a combined total of 17-5. Gracen Blieschke found the winner against SC State and Sophia Memory scored the difference-maker versus The Citadel.
Solomon Named Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week
After becoming the first Utah goalkeeper in more than a decade to start a season with consecutive clean sheets, Anna Solomon earned the year's first Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week award, it was announced on Wednesday. This is the first time a Utah keeper has ever been chosen as the Big 12's Goalkeeper of the Week. The last Utah keeper to receive such an honor was Carly Nelson in 2019.
Two Shutouts for Solomon
Anna Solomon started the year by making a pair of saves in Utah's scoreless draw with Weber State on Wednesday, including a leaping deflection of one try that thwarted a one-on-one opportunity. When the Utes visited Utah Valley on Monday, she scooped up four more stops and helped fend off several more crosses and corner kicks as Utah earned a 2-0 victory over the Wolverines. Solomon is the first Utah goalkeeper since 2015 to open the season with back-to-back clean sheets and just the fourth in school history. Only one Utah goalkeeper, Lindsey Luke in 2013, has ever started a year by blanking three straight opponents.
Super Subs
Both of Utah's goals against UVU on Aug. 17 were scored by substitutes, as Clem and Callaway came off the bench to get on the scoresheet. That marked the first time two Utah subs scored in the same game since a 5-0 win over Utah Valley on Aug. 30, 2023.
Scanning the Schedule
Utah's 2026 slate consists of 19 matches, including eight home fixtures at Ute Field. The team's Big 12 schedule begins with a Sept. 18 visit to Arizona State and includes 11 matchups against conference foes, concluding with a home clash with Kansas State on Nov. 4.
| SATURDAY'S MATCHUP Date | Time: Saturday, Aug. 22 | 3 p.m. Southern Utah (2-1-0) vs. Utah (1-0-1) Location: Salt Lake City | Ute Field Live Stats: Click Here Live Stream: Click Here Twitter Updates: @UtahWSoccer |
Last Time Out
Utah's first win of the season did not come easy, but they persevered to earn a 2-0 decision over Utah Valley on Monday. The Utes spent most of the first 45 minutes fending off pressure from the home team, but the visitors kept their hosts off the scoreboard, thanks in part to a pair of saves from goalkeeper Anna Solomon. Utah also mustered a few late attacks and managed to carry that momentum into the second half.
In the 63rd minute, Reese Clem notched Utah's first goal of 2026 after a perfect through ball into the box from Shannon Davidson set up Julia Oka for a cross that found Clem open in front of the net. Katie Callaway added the clincher in the 82nd minute when a Maddie Stoddard steal set up Callaway to find an open net for her fourth career goal.
Solomon and the back line continued stymying the Wolverines in the second half and held on to the squad's second straight shutout. This marked the fifth time in program history and first time since 2015 Utah has opened a campaign with consecutive clean sheets. Solomon is also one of only two keepers in the Big 12 with two shutouts to her credit so far in 2026.
Scouting Southern Utah
Saturday's skirmish will mark just the third meeting between the Utes and Thunderbirds, who last met in 2013, when the Utes came away with a 6-2 triumph. The first tussle between these programs happened just a year earlier and ended in a 4-0 Utah win.
Through three games in 2026, the Thunderbirds have logged a pair of wins and one defeat. They shook off a season-opening loss to the College of Charleston and posted back-to-back 1-0 victories, first over South Carolina State, then at the expense of The Citadel. Tatum Trout logged five saves across those two clean sheets, including four stops that kept the Bulldogs off the scoreboard.
SUU's offense was consistently on the attack in both wins, piling up 17 shots on goal and outshooting the opposing by a combined total of 17-5. Gracen Blieschke found the winner against SC State and Sophia Memory scored the difference-maker versus The Citadel.
Solomon Named Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week
After becoming the first Utah goalkeeper in more than a decade to start a season with consecutive clean sheets, Anna Solomon earned the year's first Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week award, it was announced on Wednesday. This is the first time a Utah keeper has ever been chosen as the Big 12's Goalkeeper of the Week. The last Utah keeper to receive such an honor was Carly Nelson in 2019.
Two Shutouts for Solomon
Anna Solomon started the year by making a pair of saves in Utah's scoreless draw with Weber State on Wednesday, including a leaping deflection of one try that thwarted a one-on-one opportunity. When the Utes visited Utah Valley on Monday, she scooped up four more stops and helped fend off several more crosses and corner kicks as Utah earned a 2-0 victory over the Wolverines. Solomon is the first Utah goalkeeper since 2015 to open the season with back-to-back clean sheets and just the fourth in school history. Only one Utah goalkeeper, Lindsey Luke in 2013, has ever started a year by blanking three straight opponents.
Super Subs
Both of Utah's goals against UVU on Aug. 17 were scored by substitutes, as Clem and Callaway came off the bench to get on the scoresheet. That marked the first time two Utah subs scored in the same game since a 5-0 win over Utah Valley on Aug. 30, 2023.
Scanning the Schedule
Utah's 2026 slate consists of 19 matches, including eight home fixtures at Ute Field. The team's Big 12 schedule begins with a Sept. 18 visit to Arizona State and includes 11 matchups against conference foes, concluding with a home clash with Kansas State on Nov. 4.
Coaches Corner
Head coach Hideki Nakada's brain trust for 2026 includes two holdovers in Jackie Poortinga and Sam Gomez and one new addition in former University of Montevallo soccer player Emma Greenwood. Greenwood joins the Utes after spending the 2025 season at Cal Poly Pomona, where she helped the Broncos post an 18-3-3 record, win the conference regular season and West Region Championships and march all the way to the Final Four. The 2025 Broncos also produced three All-Americans and had nine players who earned academic all-district honors.
Prior to her time at Cal Poly Pomona, Greenwood spent four years with Legends FC - San Diego, where she served as ECNL Director, Head Coach, and Administrative Lead. In these roles, she led player recruitment efforts, oversaw program development, and implemented team training periodization. She managed residential and youth camps throughout the year as well, contributing to the club's emergence as one of Southern California's top youth soccer environments. In 2024, Greenwood was selected to the West Region ODP staff, supporting talent identification and player evaluation across the region.
Her coaching background also includes time with San Diego Surf Soccer Club (2020–2021), where she coached ECNL and ECRL teams, and with Palomar College (2021), where she contributed to all aspects of the collegiate program, including player development, team training, scouting, and game day operations.
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.
#ProUtes
The number of Utah soccer alums in the professional ranks continues to grow. Courtney Brown, with the Utah Royals, and Katie O'Kane, who plays for Racing Louisville, are both in the middle of their second NWSL seasons. The Royals recently added a second Ute to their roster with the signing of Ali Swensen and Kelly Bullock was just announced as the newest member of Valadares Gaia FC.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @UtahWSoccer | Instagram: @UtahWSoccer | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utahwsoccer).
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