Washington To Wrap Up Non-Convention Schedule Thursday, Internet hosting Utah

SEATTLE – Unbeaten by the primary 5 matches of 2025, the Washington ladies’s soccer crew completes a three-match highway swing on Sunday, heading throughout the state to tackle Spokane at Luger Field.

Kickoff for Sunday’s match is ready for 1:00 p.m. PT, with the match accessible for streaming through ESPN+. Links to dwell protection can be found on the ladies’s soccer schedule web page at GoHuskies.com.

SCOUTING UTAH
Utah is in its fifth season underneath the route of head coach Hideki Nakada, amassing a 29-32-22 document throughout his tenure in Salt Lake City. Nakada and UW head coach Nicole Van Dyke each served on employees at Stanford in 2014.

In its second season within the Big 12, the Utes had been picked to complete ninth out of 16 groups within the league’s preseason coaches ballot.

The Utes enter Thursday’s tilt with a 3-1-1 document coming off of a 3-0 residence victory over North Carolina State at residence on Sunday.  UW and Utah share one widespread opponent in Gonzaga, with each groups incomes one-goal victories in Spokane.

Utah is led in scoring by junior midfielder Lilliah Blum, matching her scoring output from her first two collegiate seasons mixed with three objectives early in 2025. Graduate scholar midfielder Grace Watkins is pacing the Utes with three assists.

Senior Erin Gibbs, who made three begins in 2024, has began 4-of-5 matches in purpose for Utah. The former Eastern Washington keeper owns a 1.00 objectives towards common this season with a .714 save share, making 10 saves.

SERIES HISTORY
Former convention foes within the Pac-12, Thursday evening’s match would be the 18th between Washington and Utah. The Huskies personal a slim 9-7-1 benefit within the all-time collection, going 3-0-1 during the last 4 conferences. Utah has not overwhelmed Washington since a 1-0 victory in Seattle in 2019.

LAST MEETING (10/19/23)

SEATTLE – Playing in Seattle for the primary time in three weeks, Washington gave the house crowd one thing to cheer about Thursday, taking down Utah 3-1 at Husky Soccer Stadium.

 

Despite finally trailing 13-11 on photographs for the match, the Huskies dictated the tempo of play for a lot of the afternoon, by far creating essentially the most harmful probabilities.

 

The defending Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week, Olivia Juarez got here up when referred to as upon in purpose, tallying 5 saves on the evening.

 

The first of two free kick objectives on the evening, Hailey Still put the Huskies forward within the twenty fourth minute, heading residence Jace Holmes’ service.

 

The Dawgs continued to pile on stress and doubled the lead simply earlier than halftime. Taking Holmes’ layoff completely in stride at midfield, Riley Brown made a darting run previous a number of defenders earlier than unleashing an extended vary strike, catching the keeper off her line within the forty second minute to make it 2-0.

 

Up two objectives to the great, Kelsey Branson pushed the benefit to 3-0 within the 56th minute because the Dawgs as soon as once more capitalized on a free kick. This time it was Kolo Suliafu on the service, with Branson beating the keeper to the ball to flick in her fourth purpose in as many matches.

 

The Utes acquired on the board within the 79th minute thanks to an enormous deflection however by then the outcome was properly in hand for the Huskies, who closed issues out to run their unbeaten stretch to 3 straight matches.

 

SERIES HISTORY

Washington has not trailed in 2025. The Huskies have by no means completed a non-conference schedule with out trailing at any level.

 

NON-CON? NO PROBLEM

Prior to this season, senior Kelsey Branson had scored simply one in all her 11 profession objectives towards non-conference opponents, bagging over 90 p.c of her profession objectives towards league opposition. Through 5 non-con matches in 2025, Branson has scored thrice, already eclipsing her scoring output from the complete 2024 season.

PROLIFIC PACE

If she finds the again of the web on Thursday, Jadyn Holdenried will turn into the quickest Husky to 5 objectives in a season since 2014, when Jaclyn Softli bagged her fifth and sixth objectives of the season in UW’s seventh match. Holdenried ranks second within the Big Ten with 10 factors in 2025.

 

WELCOME BACK, DAWGS

Washington has seen two gamers return from season-ending ACL accidents in 2025. Maggie Dutra made her collegiate debut towards Idaho after taking place throughout the 2024 preseason, whereas Enora Matté has come off the bench in every of the final three matches, her first motion since injuring her knee towards Purdue a season in the past.

 

YOU CAN FIND ME IN DA CLUB

One of the extra distinctive paths to the Husky roster comes from junior Avery Nguyen, who was provided a roster spot previous to the beginning of the 2023 season after a trial throughout preseason coaching. A local of the Kansas City metro space and a former standout for Olathe Northwest High School and Sporting Blue Valley, Nguyen led the UW membership crew in scoring as a school freshman in 2022.

 

Nguyen has gotten her senior season off to a robust begin, scoring her first profession purpose towards Idaho. Nguyen has made 17 profession appearances for Washington.

HOME SWEET HOME

UW’s match at UC Irvine was the primary and solely time throughout the non-conference season that Washington will likely be compelled to go away the snug confines of its residence state. UW opened the season with three-consecutive residence fixtures at Husky Soccer Stadium, adopted by the journey to Irvine and a pair of in-state highway tilts at Seattle U and Gonzaga. The Huskies open Big Ten play with a highway journey south, going through USC on the newly constructed Rawlinson Stadium.

PROTECT THIS HOUSE

Dating again to the tip of the 2023 season, Washington has been defeated on its residence soil simply as soon as within the final 16 matches at Husky Soccer Stadium. The Huskies personal a 11-1-4 residence document throughout the stretch, outscoring opponents 30-7.

 

ALL ROADS CLOSED

The stout Husky defensive unit, which tied this system document for fewest objectives allowed in a single season in 2024, surrendering simply 12, is led by senior centerback Kolo Suliafu, who was named to the United Soccer Coaches’ Defenders to Watch record. Suliafu, a Second Team All-Big Ten and United Soccer Coaches All-Region choice, made 35 consecutive begins for Washington earlier than a one-match ban to begin the season and contributed to 24 clear sheets all through her illustrious UW profession, together with 22 as a member of the beginning XI. Suliafu was additionally ranked because the No. 91 participant in all of ladies’s school soccer in TopDrawerSoccer’s annual preseason top-100 record.

WATCH OUT!

Suliafu was joined on the Big Ten Players to Watch List by a pair of teammates in junior midfielder Samiah Shell and fifth yr Laura Cetina. It was Suliafu’s second consecutive look on the preseason record.

 

Shell, a local of Auburn, Washington, is Washington’s main returning scorer with 5 objectives throughout a breakout sophomore marketing campaign. A former participant within the prestigious High School All-American Game, Shell additionally dished out three assists in 2024 for 13 whole factors. The Auburn Riverside HS product opened her Husky scoring account with a purpose at No. 10 Santa Clara, additionally including a brace in UW’s Big Ten highway victory over Maryland.

 

Meanwhile, Cetina is a recent face to Montlake, becoming a member of Washington after enjoying the final two seasons at UMass Lowell, the previous residence of Husky All-Big Ten standout Ioanna Papatheodorou. Cetina brings a profitable pedigree in tow, having guided Eastern Florida State College to its first-ever NJCAA National Championship in 2021. Prior to coming stateside, the A Coruña, Spain, native scored 38 objectives over 4 seasons for Spanish membership Victoria C.F.

SMART COOKIES

For the tenth straight season, Washington has obtained the United Soccer Coaches Academic Award after incomes a 3.67 crew GPA.

 

STARTING XI FIXTURE

Since making seven-straight begins to finish her freshman marketing campaign, Kelsey Branson has not did not crack the Huskies’ beginning XI a single time, a streak spanning 53 consecutive matches. Branson is the one Husky to begin all 19 matches in 2023 and all 21 fixtures of 2024.

 

MIA KICKS CANCER

Washington will likely be enjoying for way over bragging rights and glory on the pitch in 2025, sporting an orange ribbon on the entrance of its jerseys in help of senior goalkeeper Mia Hamant, who was recognized with Stage 4 SMARCB1-deficient kidney most cancers. Hamant hopes to return to the pitch in Purple and Gold however is not going to swimsuit up on the pitch in 2025.

 

The California native, who just lately celebrated her twenty first birthday, did extra than simply carry out in her first season as Washington’s main keeper a season in the past, she starred. Hamant posted the nation’s third-best save share in 2024 at .882, whereas UW collectively hailed the NCAA’s prime save share. Hamant’s 0.66 objectives towards common was the third lowest in a season for a UW keeper, whereas her seven clear sheets had been the sixth most in a season for a Husky.

 

Hamant, who additionally excels within the classroom at U Dub as a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District and Big Ten Fall All-Academic honoree, put UW on her again throughout Washington’s postseason run final season. The Redwood HS product was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team after making three penalty saves to elevate UW over Iowa into the Big Ten Semifinals, then adopted up with extra penalty shootout excellence as UW superior previous No. 25 Utah State into the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.

 

The UW neighborhood has rallied round Hamant, with a number of Husky applications donning orange ribbons within the standout shot stopper’s honor. Additionally, a GoFundMe to help the assorted prices related to Hamant’s care has raised over $125,000 to this point. Fans can comply with together with Hamant’s most cancers journey on Instagram at @miakickscancer.

 

KEEP SLEEPING

Despite grossly outperforming its preseason prognostication of thirteenth within the 2024 Big Ten Preseason Coaches Poll, ending tied for fifth within the league desk and advancing to the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals, Washington as soon as once more isn’t predicted to be amongst the league’s prime groups. The Huskies had been picked to complete ninth within the 2025 iteration of the preseason ballot, with USC predicted to win this season’s league crown.

 

2025 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll

1. USC

2. UCLA

3. Penn State

4. Michigan State

5. Ohio State

6. Iowa

7. Wisconsin

8. Rutgers

9. Washington

10. Minnesota

11. Purdue

12. Nebraska

13. Michigan

14. Northwestern

15. Illinois

16. Oregon

17. Indiana

18. Maryland

LEFT SIDE, BEST SIDE

Of the 28 members of Washington’s 2025 roster, 20 hail from West Coast states, that includes 11 natives of California, eight residence state merchandise from Washington and one product of the Portland suburbs in Oregon. However, Washington’s squad spans the US and globe, with natives of Georgia, Kansas, Nevada and 5 internationals donning the Purple and Gold.

CONSISTENCY IS KEY

For the second consecutive season, Washington returns each member of its teaching employees, retaining assistant coaches Cole Schmit, Raphael Cox and Kary Whitney to Nicole Van Dyke‘s employees. Previously Washington had not returned each member of its teaching employees since 2018.

 

LEADING BY EXAMPLE

This summer season, Washington senior Lucy Newlin was one in all two UW athletes chosen as a Big Ten’s Outstanding Sportsmanship Award honoree, together with baseball’s Malakhi Knight. A two-way participant on the pitch and within the classroom, Newlin leads by each phrases and actions, displaying consummate respect and sportsmanship for each her teammates and opponents. The NorCal native can be a pacesetter in the neighborhood for the Dawgs, constantly score as one in all UW’s prime contributors in neighborhood service initiatives. On the sector, the Newlin is anticipated to be a key cog to the Husky protection after battling by nagging accidents in 2024.

CROOTIN’ ALL OVER THE WORLD

Washington spanned not solely the nation to bolster its roster in 2025, the Huskies searched all around the world to herald the latest group of Dawgs. UW added 5 Europeans this summer season in midfielder Laura Cetina (Spain/UMass Lowell), goalkeeper Cadi Doran (Wales/Liverpool FC), defender Julia Hüsch (Germany/UNC Asheville) and defender Anouk Westphal (Germany/Hertha BSC). Washington additionally returns junior Belgian worldwide defender/midfielder Enora Matté, who is ready to renew motion after tearing her ACL throughout Big Ten play in 2024.

 

VEGAS BORN, SEATTLE PROUD

Hailing from the Las Vegas desert, Washington sophomore Andrea Leyva and her brother, Seattle Sounders midfielder Danny Leyva now name the Evergreen State residence. Andrea has appeared in 22 matches with 13 begins for UW and was ranked as a 4 star recruit and the No. 39 prospect within the nation by TopDrawerSoccer. Meanwhile, Danny has performed in 79 matches for Seattle’s MLS membership, changing into the third youngest participant in league historical past after approaching as a late substitute within the Sounders’ away loss to the Montreal Impact.

MENTI BE

The Leyva’s usually are not the one sibling connection in Seattle. Anna and Sally Menti, who starred at Roosevelt High School, lower than three miles from Husky Soccer Stadium, have shared totally different paths to enjoying in entrance of their residence state followers. Sally was an All-American midfielder at Santa Clara earlier than signing a short-term contract and later a two-year extension this season with the NWSL’s Seattle Reign, making 9 appearances with one purpose. Meanwhile, Anna is in her third season at UW, making 43 appearances with 29 begins and amassing two objectives and two assists alongside the best way.

 

For extra data on Husky Women’s Soccer, comply with @UW_WSoccer on Twitter and Instagram.