Utes Drop Bodily Contest to No. 21 Colorado

SALT LAKE CITY – Despite the primary objective of the season from Callie Blaylock, the University of Utah ladies’s soccer crew fell to the No. 21 Colorado Buffaloes, 2-1, in entrance of 613 followers at Ute Field on Thursday night time.

The Utes fall to 7-6-3 and 2-3-2 in Big 12 Conference play with 4 matches remaining in league play, whereas Colorado improves to 11-2-2 and 5-1-1 towards Big 12 competitors.

“Considering the number of opportunities we created tonight,” mentioned coach Hideki Nakada, “it’s really disappointing to walk away without a result. In the end, it came down to them capitalizing on their limited chances while we managed to convert only one of our 22 shots. I’m pleased with the way we’re playing overall; we just need to be a bit sharper in front of goal. We’re looking forward to a great opportunity we’ll have on Sunday at Baylor.”

Colorado opened the scoring early, discovering netting within the eighth minute. Erin Gibbs was capable of get a hand on the right-footed shot, however the ball nonetheless discovered its means contained in the close to submit. It marked the primary objective allowed by the Utah protection in two weeks, having blanked opponents for the prior 245 minutes of motion. Utah now has two streaks of 200-plus scoreless minutes this season.

The Buffaloes threatened once more within the thirteenth minute, however an aggressive sliding save by Gibbs turned away a would-be objective and the senior keeper got here away with a threatening cross seconds later to maintain the rating frozen. Bella Woods, who had scored back-to-back game-winning objectives getting into the night time, had a pair of sturdy probabilities from exterior the field within the 18th minute, however the first was blocked by a CU defender and the second wrapped across the exterior of the far submit. The 1-0 rating nonetheless stood when the halftime whistle sounded.

Both groups got here out of the break and attacked the web. Gibbs knocked away a harmful shot simply 30 seconds into the interval, and Kelly Bullock’s shot on the counterattack was turned away by the Colorado keeper in flip to arrange a Utah nook kick. A second scoring probability from Bullock crept simply exterior the submit to maintain the 1-0 scoreline intact. In the fifty fifth minute, Abby Affleck despatched a right-footer in on objective from exterior the field, however a diving denial by the Colorado keeper as soon as once more stored Utah off the scoreboard.

Action stayed within the midfield for the following 10 minutes till Blaylock made a run up the left aspect of the sector, sending a shot on objective however into the arms of the keeper. Colorado was capable of get the ball into its attacking half, and after Gibbs made a diving cease, the Buffaloes regained possession and had been capable of rating their second of the night time.

Utah was capable of reply within the 77th minute when Ryann Cull despatched a cross into the field that discovered Blaylock, who hammered house her first objective of the yr to chop the deficit in half. Cull’s help marked her second of the marketing campaign and tenth of her profession.

The Utes continued to place stress on the CU protection as time wound down. A header from Woods within the 78th minute almost tied the sport, however video overview confirmed that the Colorado keeper received her hand on it earlier than the ball crossed the objective line. In the eighty fifth minute, Utah earned a nook kick however couldn’t convert as Blaylock’s header flew huge. A ninetieth minute try from Bullock at high of field was blocked, leaving the Utes with no extra time to finish the comeback.

Utah led in photographs (22-10) and photographs on objective (7-6), however Colorado held the benefit in saves (6-4). Utah generated 5 nook kicks on the night time, all of which got here within the second half.

Next Up

Utah will face its second ranked opponent in a row subsequent outing, touring to Texas to tackle No. 10 Baylor on Sunday, Oct. 19. The match is ready to kick off in Waco at midday MT on ESPN+.

 

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