College soccer roundup: Winners and losers from opening day of the 2023 season
BYU, Utah State and Utah Tech were among the winners on the first day of the 2023 women's soccer regular season across the Wasatch Front, while Utah earned a valuable road draw.
First thing’s first: We probably won’t make a habit of sending you every result from every college soccer match straight to your email inbox.
But Thursday was the opening day of the 2023 college soccer regular season across the country, and we thought a few of the teams from the Beehive State produced noteworthy results.
Here’s a look across the state’s Division I programs on Opening Day.
#13 BYU 3, #21 Saint Louis 2
In an all-top-25 matchup in Provo, Bella Folino, Olivia Wade Katoa and Erin Bailey all scored in the first half as the Cougars held off the Billikens at South Field.
Caroline Kelly scored for Saint Louis, which got a goal from Emily Gaebe in the final 10 minutes before Gaebe’s attempted equalizer with about 14 seconds remaining skidded just over the crossbar.
"It was a huge win for us against a very good team that leads the country in scoring,” BYU coach Jennifer Rockwood said. “We certainly had our ups and downs throughout the game. We had some good composure and bad composure, but that’s why we play a team like this from the beginning – so we have lots to learn from. We’re going to learn how to close out games a lot better, but we held on to the win, and that’s most important."
BYU hosts Cal State Fullerton on Saturday evening at South Field (7 p.m. MT, ESPN+). Saint Louis will travel to Utah State on Sunday.
Speaking of the Aggies …
Utah State 5, Weber State 1
At Logan, Utah, Freshman Summer Diamond had a brace, and London Miller-Smith, Tenzi Knowles and Abby Schofield each added a goal as the Aggies routed their in-state rivals in Logan.
“We came out strong, and we were all just encouraging each other the whole time,” Diamond said. “There are obviously things we need to work on, but the first game, it’s not too bad.”
Mikayla Topaum scored for the Wildcats.
Utah Tech 3, South Dakota 1
At Vermillion, S.D., Brynlee Rider scored her second career brace, including the match-winner in the 60th minute, as the Trailblazers downed the Coyotes in head coach Lexi Brown’s first match in charge.
Kearney Hoggan added a late goal for Utah Tech in the win.
"This game was a battle but that's exactly what you'd expect in an opening day road game,” Brown said. “We have plenty of room to grow and moments we can learn from but overall I'm proud of the way we played," Brown said. "We had a ton of players get their first collegiate minutes and they showed really well. It was also great to rely on some key returners to get us on the board in Brynlee and Kearney.
"It's a great place to start and we look forward to building on this performance when we face Omaha on Sunday.”
Utah 1, North Carolina State 1
At Raleigh, N.C., Bella Woods scored a goal and Kasey. Wardle made three of her four saves in the second half as the Utes earned a road draw with the Wolfpack on Thursday night.
Jade Bordelau gave N.C. State a 1-0 lead in the 47th minute. But Woods put one of the Utes’ six shots into the back okf the net in the 73rd minute to help the visitors secure the draw.
"NC State is a quality team," Utah coach Hideki Nakada said, "and this certainly is a solid result on the road, but I felt this was a game we should have won. That said, there are many positives to take away from our first game of the season and we are looking forward to Sunday's matchup in Charleston."
Utah Valley 1, Hawai’i 1
At Honolulu, Hawai’i, Faith Webber gave the Wolverines a 1-0 lead in the 59th minute, but Hawai’i’s Amber Gilbert equalized with seven minutes reaming as both teams split the points in the season opener.
Webber finished a right-footed shot from BYU transfer Ruby Hladek into the upper 90 just before the hour mark to offer the 1-0 advantage to Utah Valley, which out-shot the Rainbow Wahine 11-10 with seven shots on target.
But Gilbert found an opening in the 83rd minute, giving Hawai’i the home draw with the WAC preseason favorites who will face three top-25 opponents in No. 25 Clemson, No. 13 BYU and No. 22 USC before conference play.
Omaha 4, Southern Utah 0
At Omaha, Neb., Cece Behrens, Sophia Green, Emilie Erland and Alyssa Keller helped the Mavericks score early and often to drop the Thunderbirds in their season opener.
"We lost to a really good soccer team tonight,” SUU coach Kai Edwards said. “They won their league for a reason, they capitalized on our mistakes and we were missing a few details. We competed hard and stayed together as a group which is a great positive. We go again on Saturday and will be better."
Beckerman’s coming home
Utah Valley men’s soccer opens next Thursday, Aug. 24 against Kansas City, but the former RSL legend announced a homecoming fixture this season.
The Wolverines will host Western Michigan on Aug. 27 at America First Field, where stadium formerly known as the RioT where Beckerman spent 14 seasons of his 21-year career in Major League Soccer.
Admission is free, and parking will be available in the stadium’s west lot. Concessions will also be available for the 1 p.m. MT kickoff (gates open at noon). The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
The first-time head coach who also made 58 appearances with the U.S. men’s national team, including time at the 2014 World Cup, is 16-14-3 as head coach of Utah Valley, where he is entering his third season. UVU was unbeaten at home last year for the first time in program history, outscoring opponents 10-1 in five games at Clyde Field.
Western Michigan is coming off arguably its best season in program history, a 16-3-2 record that included wins over Michigan State, Wisconsin and Northwestern; a MAC Tournament championship; and a berth in the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 16 for just the second time in program history.