College soccer roundup: BYU, Utah, Utah State come up big on road on opening night
Opening night of the 2025 college soccer season in Utah included some big results in the Beehive State. Here's what you may have missed.
By: Salt City Soccer staff
Opening night of the 2025 college soccer season in Utah included some big results in the Beehive State.
This may or may not be a regular thing. But tonight — the first night — is a special occasion. And there were some BIG results from Utah college soccer.
Here's what you may have missed, unless you were glued to a half-dozen different streaming services like some of us College Soccer Sickos™ (guilty 🙋).
Shorthanded BYU upsets No. 24 Minnesota, 3-1
BYU’s youth showed out Thursday night, rallying from a 1-0 deficit with 10 players to stun No. 24 Minnesota in Minneapolis.
The Cougars (1-0) got all their scoring from freshmen in the second half, after a 31st-minute red card to junior captain Avery Frischknecht reduced coach Jennifer Rockwood’s side to 10 for the final hour.
Caroline Birdsell put the Gophers in front a minute later, finishing off a cross from Paige Kalal that lifted Minnesota to a 1-0 halftime advantage.
But Mia Lopez equalized 10 minutes after halftime, sliding a right-footed shot inside the far post after Lucy Kesler’s initial attempt was saved (and spilled).
Fellow freshman Mia Goettsche scored the match-winner in the 75th minute before Sophie Sivulich put the match away with a calm finish from Mika Krommenhoek for the 3-1 final.
Sivulich, Lopez and felllow freshmen Afton Perry all started for the Cougars, who got four saves from first-time starting sophomore goalkeeper Paiton Collins.
Goettsche and freshman Kate Denney also made collegiate debuts Thursday night when the Cougars out-shot Minnesota 26-15, and held the Golden Gophers to five shots on frame — over half of them coming in the final 30 minutes.
“We knew this was a great group coming in; they really stepped up and were dangerous,” Rockwood said of the freshmen. “Mia coming in off the bench and getting that second goal was huge, obviously.
“Lots of good things out there. I thought Izzi Stratton owned the field, too. She gave us such good leadership.”
BYU is back on the road Monday, Aug. 18 at Cal Poly (7 p.m. MT, ESPN+) before the first of five-straight home games Saturday, Aug. 23 against No. 8 UCLA.
Miller’s blast gives Utah State opening-night win over Washington State
Austin Miller scored the lone goal of the match in the 77th minute as Utah State opened its Mountain West title defense with a 1-0 win over Washington State at Lower Soccer Field in Pullman, Washington.
The Aggies (1-0) out-shot the Cougars 10-4 in the second half, including seven shots in the final 30 minutes.
Taylor Rath, the graduate transfer goalkeeper from Pepperdine who helped Utah United to a USL W League title in the summer, record two saves to earn her first official clean sheet in Aggie blue.
Utah State is back on the road next Thursday, Aug. 21 against Pacific. The Aggies open the home slate Sunday, Aug. 24 against Big 12 foe Kansas at 1 p.m. MT at Bell Soccer Field.
Bullock propels Utes to season-opening win over Gonzaga
Julia Oka scored her first goal in her collegiate debut, and Kelly Bullock scored the fifth game-winning goal of her college career as Utah rallied for a 2-1 win over Gonzaga at Luger Field in Spokane, Washington.
Grace Watkins assisted on both goals for the Utes, who won a season opener on the road for the first time since 2017.
"What an incredible comeback win for our Utes tonight," Utah coach Hideki Nakada said. "I'm so proud of our team's resilience and determination to find a way to come out on top in the end.”
Utah will return to the Wasatch Front this weekend before traveling Monday to play at Utah Valley in the Wolverines’ first match at newly completed UCCU Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. MT in Orem.
Utah Tech comes up short at Colorado State
Freshman forward Brooke Hendricks’ first collegiate goal wasn’t enough as Utah Tech fell behind Colorado State, 2-1 in the season opener in Fort Collins, Colorado.
CSU sophomore Kaja Dionne buried a cross from senior Olivia Fout in the 16th minute give the Rams the lead, and Fout doubled the advantage just three minutes later.
Hendricks pulled one back in the 87th minute, finishing her chance from senior Kyah Le with a touch that lofted into the upper 90 for the final margin.
The Trailblazers return to St. George to host UC Riverside on Sunday in the home opener. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT at Greater Zions Stadium.
Thunderbirds shut out by Grizzlies in season opener
Montana handed Southern Utah a 3-0 loss in the Thunderbirds’ season opener Thursday night in Missoula.
"We didn't defend the set play well in the first-half and that was the difference in the game,” SUU coach Kai Edwards said in a news release. “The second half we did much better and created very good chances. Time to get ready for a well coached (Eastern Washington) Sunday."
Wildcats routed by Oregon in season opener
Weber State dropped its season opener 4-0 Thursday night in Eugene, Oregon.
“Obviously, the result is not what we were hoping for, but there were plenty of positives to the game,” Weber State coach Kyle Christensen said. “I was pleased with the opportunities we had to score, and we had moments in the game where we controlled the tempo and possession. There is plenty we will learn from this game, and we will now prepare for another tough opponent on Sunday.”
The Wildcats will complete the Pacific Northwest road trip with Sunday’s match at Oregon State. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. MT on ESPN+.