The Utah Valley Women’s Soccer team fell to the University of Utah 5-0 on Wednesday night, bringing their season record to 2-2-1.
Utah started off hot, which proved to be overwhelming for the Wolverines. The Utes scored three goals in the first half after getting started early by a goal in just the third minute. After hitting the left post Utah reset their offense and found the net.
Utah Valley had a chance to even up the score in the 10th minute when junior forward Faith Webber hit the cross bar on a shot from 25 yards out. The attempt was slightly too high, and the Wolverines were unable to capitalize.
The Wolverines would then concede their second goal of the half after a defensive miscue. The Utes would have one-on-one with the keeper, leading to a 2-0 lead from Utah’s second goal.
Utah would then succeed on their third goal of the half after a pass from midfield reached the defensive third, which seemed to be offside from Utah’s Kyla Jennings. After she was deemed onside, Jennings was rewarded with a one-on-one chance with senior keeper Idalia Serrano. Jennings scored after Serrano was unable to defend the box on her own.
Despite the one-sided first half, the Wolverines outshot the Utes 6-4 with five of those shots on goal. Utah Valley also had four corner kicks to Utah’s zero.
Utah Valley kept possession for most of the half but could not capitalize on the five shots on target.
Serrano was pulled in the second half, with sophomore keeper Leah Wolf taking over defensive duties.
The second half could not have gone worse for the Wolverines.
In the 48th minute, Utah broke open the Wolverine defense yet again. Senior defender Sydney Bushman pulled down the attacking Ute by her jersey in the box, which resulted in a red card.
The red card reduced the Wolverines down to just 10 players and will also suspend Bushman for the upcoming game on Saturday against No. 7 BYU.
“Sydney is a big-time player for us. She is a rock. It is unfortunate that we will not have her,” head coach Chris Lemay stated after the game. “But we will come together and come up with a gameplan without Sydney in it.”
After the red card, Utah converted on the penalty kick and would take a commanding 4-0 lead.
Webber would have another shot on goal in the 51st minute sending it just over the crossbar.
The Wolverines had another opportunity as they sent the ball into the box after the Utah keeper had fallen, but it was saved on the goal-line by a Utah defender, and UVU was not rewarded with a goal.
The Utes would shove the dagger further as they scored their fifth goal of the night in the 80th minute. This would send the Wolverines home scoreless.
Utah Valley now falls to 0-7-1 vs Utah all time. The Wolverines have been outscored by the Utes 29-1 in history, with the lone goal coming in a 1-2 loss in 2004.
“We needed to be much better in transition. Most of their goals came in counter attacks,” Lemay said. “We are going to look to fix that.”
Lemay also mentioned the uncertainty for the starters on Saturday. Lemay said that he does not know if Serrano or Wolf will be in the box.
“We got to figure a lot of things out in regard to the lineup.”
Utah Valley and BYU continue their rivalry on Saturday. A matchup that will feature sisters from both programs: Jenna Shepherd of UVU and Jamie Shepherd of BYU.
UVU defeated the Cougars in Provo last year 4-2 before BYU would get their revenge in the NCAA Tournament, beating the Wolverines 3-0.
Saturday’s contest will kick off at 7 p.m. from Clyde Field and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
