SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Utah Valley University women's soccer suffered a 6-0 setback in its 2015 season opener at San Diego State on Friday night. SDSU, who is currently receiving votes for the top 25 poll, punched in three goals in the first half and added three more in the final frame en route to the victory.
"Tonight was a tough match against a very good club. We started off poorly and never really were able to establish any rhythm in the match," head coach
Brent Anderson said. "The girls will learn and rebound from this and you will see a different team with a renewed energy on Sunday."
The Aztecs (1-0-0), who have won three straight Mountain West regular-season and tournament titles and have appeared in a trio of consecutive NCAA Tournaments, started the scoring in the third minute when Aliyah Utush poked in a shot from the right side to give her team an early 1-0 advantage. Utush then added her second goal of the match 20 minutes later and her teammate Zsuria Phare capped the first-half scoring for SDSU in the 36th minute by punching home a pass from Morgan Darling.
Hedda Regefalk, Angela Mitchell and Leah Pruitt then capped the scoring for the Aztecs by each drilling home a goal apiece for SDSU in the second half.
The Wolverines (0-1-0), who recorded four shots in the contest, had their best chance to score late in the first half when
Sheridan Fox,
Lexi Felis and
Jamie Brown fired off three straight shots. None of the shots managed to find the back of the net, however, as UVU was held scoreless on the night.
SDSU outshot the Wolverines 25-4 in the contest and put up 11 shots on goal compared to none from UVU.
Despite surrendering six goals, Utah Valley goalkeeper
Jessica Duffin had a nice ballgame by recording five saves on the night.
The opening season contest was a physical one for both teams, as four yellow cards and a total of 20 fouls were handed out in the match.
Utah Valley will now return to Orem to begin a three-match homestand against Central Arkansas on Sunday morning. Sunday's home opener will be contested at UVU's Clyde Field and is set to get underway at 11 a.m.
