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SALT LAKE CITY — Coming off a recent loss to the 19th-ranked team in the country, Utah women's soccer bounced back in a shutout win over the visiting Utah Valley Wolverines to Ute Field Wednesday.
In the team's battle with No. 19 Clemson on Sunday, Utah was able to hold the Tigers to its lowest shots on goal of the season in a 1-0 loss, which left head coach Hideki Nakada hopeful going into Wednesday's game against Utah Valley.
The Utes defense kept that momentum going and was successful in a 5-0 shutout of its in-state neighbors.
Just 25 seconds into the 90-minute match, Utah Valley's Manthy Brady got a shot off, but it was secured by Utah keeper Kacey Wardle. After the shot by Brady, Utah's offense went to work.
Olympus High alum Kelly Bullock had her shot at the goal saved by Utah Valley keeper Idalia Serrano, but it didn't take much longer for Bullock to find the back of the net two minutes into the match. Just a mere 17 seconds later she was able to get past the Wolverines defenders a second time and scored Utah's first goal of the night.
Utah's offense continued to flow, and senior star Taliana Kaufusi booted one in off an assist from Kennedy Schoennauer in the 18th minute. And then midway through the first half, the Utes found themselves up 3-0 on a score by Kayla Jennings, the sophomore from Tampa, Florida.
Utah's Courtney Brown joined in on the scoring off a red card penalty kick early in the second half. The Utes final goal came from Kaela Standish with 11 minutes left in the match, giving the Utes their third win of the season.
Up next, the Utes will square off with Cal State Fullerton on the road before coming back home to Salt Lake City to take on in-state rival BYU, who finds itself ranked seventh in the nation.
As for the Wolverines, they will take on the Cougars in the crosstown showdown on Sept. 2 at Clyde Field at 7 p.m. MDT.
