Sept. 23, 2008

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SALT LAKE CITY - The University of Utah women's soccer team (3-5-2) takes its four-game unbeaten streak back on the road this weekend, making its first stop in Seattle Friday for an 8 p.m. MT kickoff against the Washington Huskies (7-1-0). Utah will then head south to face the Mustangs of Cal Poly (4-5-0) Sunday at 2 p.m. MT.

Friday's meeting with Washington will mark the fourth time the Utes and Huskies have matched up, with Utah holding a 3-0 record in the previous three. The last time they squared off was in 2007 in Salt Lake City as the Utes took away a 3-2 win in dramatic come-from-behind fashion. After surrendering goals in the 11th and 58th minutes, Utah's Katy Reineke (Salt Lake City) lit a fire under the Utes, scoring in the 62nd minute and then netting the equalizer less than four minutes later. Reineke then assisted on Adele Letro's game-winner goal with less than nine minutes left to play.

Utah and Cal Poly will meet Sunday for the third time, having split their other two matches. The first time they faced off was a neutral-site meeting in 1997 that saw Cal Poly hand the Utes an 8-0 loss. There next meeting came 10 years later and saw a much better result for the Utes as they topped Cal Poly in Salt Lake City, 2-0.

After beginning the year 1-5-0, including a four-game losing skid, the Utes have now reversed the trend and gone unbeaten in their last four, posting a 2-0-2 record in that time frame. Utah has kept a clean sheet in three of those games and allowed only one goal in the other. Another testament to the quality of Utah's defending of late is the fact that they have scored just four goals in those four unbeaten games.

Utah has seen its recent offensive production come from unlikely sources, as the last three Ute goals came from defenders finding the back of the net for the first time in their careers. Sophomore Morgan Skeen (Coto de Caza, Calif.) sunk the final nail against Utah State, netting her first career goal on Sept. 12 to put Utah up 2-0 on the Aggies. Skeen then got back in the act last Sunday, scoring the Utes' only goal in a 1-1 draw with Cal State Fullerton. Last Friday night saw freshman Lauren Porter (Salt Lake City) bury the first of her career as she headed in a corner kick played by Reineke.

Junior Kelly Isleib (Park City) remains the Utes' offensive leader with four goals to her credit. Her last strike proved to be the eventual game-winner against Utah State. Despite playing with a sore shoulder after a minor injury suffered at Loyola Marymount, Isleib was still effective last weekend, putting the Utes in dangerous positions and testing Cal State Fullerton's goalkeeper more than once.

Scouting The Washington Huskies...

After a 7-0 start to the season, Washington stumbled into the loss column for the first time this season last weekend as the squad fell to Illinois. The one-loss Huskies look to get back on track as the Utes head to Seattle for an 8 p.m. kickoff.

The Husky offense is averaging more than two goals per game and is led by Veronica Perez. The junior forward has hit the back of the net six times on the year and assisted on two other scores, racking up 14 points. Melissa Beal is the second-leading goal scorer with four tallies to her credit.

Defensively, Washington boasts a team goals-against-average of a mere 0.75. Starting goalkeeper Alex Phillips is a Park City, Utah native who has made 11 saves and given up just six goals for a save percentage of .647.

The Huskies are led by Lesle Gallimore, now in her 15th season as the head coach at UW, who enters the weekend with a 149-122-19 (.547) record as the Huskies' head coach. Washington brought back 17 letterwinners and seven starters from last year's 5-13-1 squad which finished eighth in the Pac-10.

Scouting The Cal Poly Mustangs...

Cal Poly carries a 4-5-0 record into the weekend. Before hosting the Utes Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. MT, the Mustangs will take on Utah State Friday night.

The Mustangs enter this weekend looking to atone for a 3-0 Sunday loss to Stanford at a neutral site, which snapped a three-match win streak. Cal Poly had begun the season with three straight losses, then won four of its next five before running into the Cardinal.

Ashley Vallis has led the offensive charge for the Mustangs, scoring three goals and notching an assist for a total of seven points. Just behind her is Tiffany Gummow, also scoring three goals for a six-point total.

Defensively, Cal Poly goalkeeper Coral Hoover holds a goals against average of 1.38, making 42 saves while allowing 12 goals.

Cal Poly is coached by Alex Crozier, now in his 17th year at the helm for the Mustangs, who owns a 196-101-33 career record. Crozier brought back 14 letterwinners and seven starters from the 2007 squad that posted an 8-9-3 overall record, including a 5-2-1 Big West Conference mark for a third-place finish.

Utes Finding Results Against Tough Opposition...

With the win and draw over the weekend, Utah picked up two quality results against teams garnering national attention. Both Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton were receiving votes in the NSCAA Top 25 poll coming into the weekend. CSF has been ranked as high as No. 21 this year.

Utah's 2-1 double-overtime victory against UNC Greensboro earlier this season looks better all the time, as the Spartans are now receiving top 25 votes as well. Additionally, Wake Forest, who needed overtime to defeat the Utes, was ranked No. 20 last weekend and previously had risen as high as No. 13. Finally, two more of Utah's upcoming opponents, Washington and UNLV, were also receiving votes for the top 25 as of last weekend.

Defense Discovers Rhythm, Chemistry...

In the midst of a four-game unbeaten streak, Utah has allowed just one opponent goal. That strike came in Sunday's 1-1 draw and ended a string of three consecutive shutouts posted by the Utes. According to head coach Rich Manning, the communication in the back line has become much better and each player has begun to really define her role within the defense.

That may not seem a remarkable fact, as it takes any team time to jell. But it becomes much more of story when considering that Utah's back line has seen a rotation of only seven players, comprised of three freshmen, three sophomores and one senior. Both starting center back are freshmen, while the two starting outside backs are only in their second years of collegiate soccer. In addition, the goalkeeper organizing everything is a junior but is in her first year as the team's starter. As the players mature with continued game experience, the Ute defense is one to watch as conference play approaches.

From The Mind of Manning...

Quotes from Utah head coach Rich Manning regarding his squad, this week's opponents and other items of note:

On the upcoming matches against Washington and Cal Poly:
"Washington is off to a really good start and they brought a lot back from last year. They are hungry to win and it has showed so far. UW plays very rhythmic soccer and has a couple of personality players that can break you down. Their starting goalkeeper is also from Park City, so a lot of our girls will be familiar with her.

"Cal Poly is a big, physical team. Their field is a little smaller so it can be a challenge. Both of these teams will be well-coached, organized and know how to win. We are looking forward to two more challenging road games against good teams. "

On the final `tune-up' weekend before MWC play begins:
"Every game we play provides us with more experience and an opportunity to demonstrate that we can consistently play good soccer and do what it takes to win. Hopefully we can do that this weekend and then carry that into our conference-opener against BYU on Oct. 4."

On the current demeanor of the squad:
"I think we are an optimistic, confident group that is really developing a personality on the field. Our players are confident now that we can step out and compete with anybody. Even with the 1-1 draw last Sunday we saw improvement from Friday night's game. We are looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish against two more good teams this weekend."

Porter Leads Young Back Line...

Freshman defender Lauren Porter has been one of the most consistent players anywhere on the field for Utah this year. Last Friday night, she captured her first career goal, heading in a Katy Reineke corner kick, scoring the eventual game-winner against Long Beach State. Porter has done a good job getting forward for the Utes on corners and set pieces, coming up with several close calls offensively before finally netting one.

No less important has been Porter's defensive heading presence as well. She has turned away countless opponents' set pieces and corner kicks as she uses her 5'9 frame to full advantage. Only a freshman, Porter has started all 10 games this season for the Utes at center-back. In fact, she has played every second of the more than 966 minutes the Utes have spent on the field this year, including all five overtime games.

Reineke Serving Up Quality Set Pieces...

Senior forward Katy Reineke took up primary corner-kick duties from both sides of the field this year and has not disappointed with her service. The Utes finally capitalized last Friday as freshman Lauren Porter got a head on the ball and found the back of the net, scoring what would eventually become the game-winner against Long Beach State.

Reineke nearly found the net herself from a set piece Sunday against Cal State Fullerton, as her long distance strike bent low and to the right corner, forcing the Titan goalkeeper to make a very good diving save.

Skeen Scores On Back-To-Back Weekends...

Sophomore defender Morgan Skeen scored her second career goal last Sunday against Cal State Fullerton, pulling the Utes level after they had given up an early goal. After not finding the net during her freshman year, she has now scored on back-to-back weekends for the Utes, and both have been important strikes. Her first, Sept. 12 vs. Utah State, effectively put the game out of the Aggies' reach with 15 minutes left to play.

Skeen is now the second-leading point-scorer for the Utes behind Kelly Isleib, and the only other Utah player to tally multiple goals this year. She has two goals and a game-winning assist to her credit.

Rogers Allows Just One In Four Games...

Junior goalkeeper Emalee Rogers (Centerville, Utah) has held Utah's last four opponents to just one goal, playing a major role in the Utes' current four-match unbeaten streak. Posting three straight shutouts before giving up a goal, Rogers has made 16 saves in the four-game unbeaten run. Her goals-against-average has improved drastically as well, dropping from a 2.13 to 1.30.

Rogers was named the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 15 after shutting out two consecutive opponents. She has now held three clean sheets this year and four for her career.