Thursday, October 1
Ames, Iowa
6 p.m.
University of Utah
at
Iowa State
Photo by: Emma Corona/Utah Athletics
Utes to Pay First Visit to Iowa State
9/29/2026 11:14 AM | Soccer
Utah seeking to even conference record in Ames
SALT LAKE CITY – Coming off their first win over a ranked squad since 2023 and their first Big 12 victory of the year, the University of Utah women's soccer team will try to take that momentum on the road for a date with the Iowa State Cyclones on Thursday at 7 p.m. MT at the Cyclone Sports Complex in Ames, Iowa.
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Last Time Out
A fast start led to one of Utah's most impressive showings of 2026 as they earned 2-0 triumph over No. 23 UCF. Sophie Bellini found the back of the net in the third minute, the earliest Utah goal of the season so far, and Brooke Gardner added a second in the 31st minute on a corner kick from Nevaeh Peregrina. Shannon Davidson and Julia Oka assisted on Bellini's score, putting them both in a tie for the team lead with seven points.
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While the first half was all about building a lead for the Utes, the second half was spent protecting that edge and goalkeeper Anna Solomon made sure that part of the plan succeeded. She recorded four saves and including multiple fantastic denials to preserve the shutout and pocket her fourth clean sheet of 2026. Solomon's four shutouts put her in a tie for third in the Big 12.
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Scouting Iowa State
It has been a difficult start to Big 12 play for the Cyclones, who've dropped their first three conference fixtures, including two at home. Coach Matt Fannon's team will be attempting to recapture the form that led them to a 4-2-2 mark in non-conference play. Iowa State also outscored their non-conference opponents by a margin of 13-6.
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Goalkeeping has been a strength for ISU so far in 2026 and their top goalkeeper, Eme McClenahan, currently owns the conference lead in saves with 39 and she also has three solo clean sheets to her credit while contributing to two more. Iowa State's five shutouts as a team are tied for fourth-most in the Big 12.
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Thursday's bout will represent just the second meeting all-time between the programs, who clashed for the first time in 2024. That contest ended in a scoreless draw, to both sides will arrive at the pitch still searching for the first goal in series history.
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Sophie Strikes Early
Sophie Bellini got the Utes on the board in the third minute of their Sept. 27 win over No. 23 UCF. That represents Utah's earliest goal of the season and their earliest goal in any match since Bella Woods scored in the second minute against Arizona on Oct. 10, 2025.
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A Strong Start for Solomon
Prior to 2026, only one goalkeeper had posted clean sheets in each of Utah's first three matches and that was Lindsey Luke in 2013. Luke now has company, however, as Anna Solomon has started her first year as a Ute by blanking Weber State, Utah Valley and Southern Utah. Two different Utah keepers combined to shut out the program's first three opponents in 2005.
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Points-A-Plenty
Four different Utah players accumulated points in Utah's wins over Utah Valley and Southern Utah in August. Katie Callaway has goals in back-to-back games, Shannon Davidson and Maddie Stoddard have assists in consecutive contests and Julia Oka followed up her assist at UVU with a goal against SUU. This is the first time four or more Utes have gotten on the scoresheet in consecutive fixtures since 2023, when Kelly Bullock, Taliana Kaufusi, Courtney Brown and Maryn Granger combined to achieve the same feat.
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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 Aug. 19. 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.
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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.
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| THURSDAY'S MATCHUP Date | Time:Â Thursday, Oct. 1 | 7 p.m. Utah (4-5-2, 1-2-0) at Iowa State (4-5-2, 0-3-0) Location:Â Ames, Iowa | Cyclone Sports Complex Live Stats:Â Click Here Live Stream: Click Here Twitter Updates:Â @UtahWSoccer |
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Last Time Out
A fast start led to one of Utah's most impressive showings of 2026 as they earned 2-0 triumph over No. 23 UCF. Sophie Bellini found the back of the net in the third minute, the earliest Utah goal of the season so far, and Brooke Gardner added a second in the 31st minute on a corner kick from Nevaeh Peregrina. Shannon Davidson and Julia Oka assisted on Bellini's score, putting them both in a tie for the team lead with seven points.
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While the first half was all about building a lead for the Utes, the second half was spent protecting that edge and goalkeeper Anna Solomon made sure that part of the plan succeeded. She recorded four saves and including multiple fantastic denials to preserve the shutout and pocket her fourth clean sheet of 2026. Solomon's four shutouts put her in a tie for third in the Big 12.
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Scouting Iowa State
It has been a difficult start to Big 12 play for the Cyclones, who've dropped their first three conference fixtures, including two at home. Coach Matt Fannon's team will be attempting to recapture the form that led them to a 4-2-2 mark in non-conference play. Iowa State also outscored their non-conference opponents by a margin of 13-6.
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Goalkeeping has been a strength for ISU so far in 2026 and their top goalkeeper, Eme McClenahan, currently owns the conference lead in saves with 39 and she also has three solo clean sheets to her credit while contributing to two more. Iowa State's five shutouts as a team are tied for fourth-most in the Big 12.
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Thursday's bout will represent just the second meeting all-time between the programs, who clashed for the first time in 2024. That contest ended in a scoreless draw, to both sides will arrive at the pitch still searching for the first goal in series history.
Â
Sophie Strikes Early
Sophie Bellini got the Utes on the board in the third minute of their Sept. 27 win over No. 23 UCF. That represents Utah's earliest goal of the season and their earliest goal in any match since Bella Woods scored in the second minute against Arizona on Oct. 10, 2025.
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A Strong Start for Solomon
Prior to 2026, only one goalkeeper had posted clean sheets in each of Utah's first three matches and that was Lindsey Luke in 2013. Luke now has company, however, as Anna Solomon has started her first year as a Ute by blanking Weber State, Utah Valley and Southern Utah. Two different Utah keepers combined to shut out the program's first three opponents in 2005.
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Points-A-Plenty
Four different Utah players accumulated points in Utah's wins over Utah Valley and Southern Utah in August. Katie Callaway has goals in back-to-back games, Shannon Davidson and Maddie Stoddard have assists in consecutive contests and Julia Oka followed up her assist at UVU with a goal against SUU. This is the first time four or more Utes have gotten on the scoresheet in consecutive fixtures since 2023, when Kelly Bullock, Taliana Kaufusi, Courtney Brown and Maryn Granger combined to achieve the same feat.
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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 Aug. 19. 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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#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 has become one of the newest member of Valadares Gaia FC. Rachel Bastone is currently playing for Vestri, a professional club in Iceland.
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FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @UtahWSoccer | Instagram: @UtahWSoccer | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utahwsoccer).
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