A blistering start helped the University of Utah Women’s Club side to their first win of the 2017 Fall season on another glorious night for soccer at McCarthey Field.
Utah had fallen 2-1 to Western Wyoming Community College the previous night. However, the U women had finished that game in a strong fashion, and they brought that momentum into the clash with the Coyotes from Henderson, NV.
The hosts controlled the midfield battle in the early stages, and that dominance was brought to bear after 10 minutes. Jenny Skedros gained possession before looking up and picking out the run of right winger Rachyll Faeth. The Eagle, ID, native’s first touch brought her beyond the last defender. Her second was a sublime instep finish across the CSN goalkeeper and into the net.
Utah looked to double their advantage, and did so shortly afterwards. This time it was Faeth who turned provider. Coming inside from her right wing berth, the Junior played a perfectly weighted pass into space for striker Sarah Taylor to run on to. Taylor had a quick glance up, and, noticing that the Coyotes’ goalkeeper had strayed off her line, lifted a fist-time effort over the stopper and into the empty net.
The home side maintained that 2-0 lead going in at half-time. The back four of Ashley Tedesco, Isabel Gallegos, Claire West, and Addison Martin was solid, with the fledgling center-back partnership of Gallegos and West looking increasingly comfortable.
The pendulum swung in the second half, however, as CSN dominated in both the possession and territory stakes. The Coyotes imposed a lot of pressure on Utah, but were unable to reflect that domination on the scoreboard.
Utah struggled to play themselves out of pressure, and found themselves pinned in their own half for long periods.
But they did manage to break out occasionally, and almost added a third 20 minutes from time when a sweeping counter-attack concluded with Faeth delivering a beautiful low ball into the path of Jenny Skedros, but the former Bountiful High School star was unable to apply the necessary finish to a fantastic move.
The elder Skedros would not be denied minutes later, though. With Utah enjoying greater control of the game at that point, Jenny put the result beyond doubt with a magnificent shot from just outside the box that was too high, too powerful, and too accurate to be repelled.
The visitors were unlucky not to pull one back when a shot crashed off the Utah upright. The ball bounced away to safety, thus ensuring that goalkeeper Cambri Curtis was able to maintain her clean sheet.
An encouraging result and performance by the Utes, who had midfielder Anna Papadopoulos in imperious form in the engine room.
Utah now hold tryouts on August 28th and 30th, as coaches Seamus Leonard, Brittany Van Grouw, and Stephen Duggan look to build a squad capable of making and taking Regionals in the coming months.
University of Utah: Cambri Curtis; Ashley Tedesco, Isabel Gallegos, Claire West, Addison Martin; Rachyll Faeth, Anna Papadopoulos, Sophia Skedros, Jenny Skedros, Ashla Pace; Sarah Taylor; Emma Burke, Gabby Nicholson, Kathryn Jones, Hannah Powell, Isabel Burke, Kennidy Howard, Kailey Thoits.
08/20/2017