(San Francisco, Calif. – Aug. 24, 2023) Utah Tech men's soccer played Thursday night, falling 1-0 to the Dons of the University of San Francisco. The team will then head south for its next matchup, taking on St. Mary's on Sunday.
 
AJ Ciampini returned to the starting lineup for the first time since 2021 as the first 15 minutes proved to be a back-and-forth affair. San Francisco would find shot opportunities in the 20^th and 21^st minute but Stockton Short came up with two big saves to keep the game level. Just eight minutes later, Utah Tech responded with attempts by Andre Saucedo and Jimi Villasenor, but neither attempt made it on goal.
 
After entering the halftime break level at zero, Sami Cuevas and Carlos Vargas both forced the Dons' goalkeeper to make saves, but it would be San Francisco who found the break it needed with a 64^th minute goal. Ciampini would force a save in the 88^th minute but Utah Tech was unable to find the goal it needed and the game went final at 1-0 in favor of the hosts.
 
Vargas and Cuevas both led the team with two shots on goal apiece as San Francisco put up 17 attempts to Utah Tech's eight. The Trailblazers were able to draw 17 fouls while committing just 10 as Stockton Short finished with six saves. Short, Ciampini, Villasenor, Julian Herrera and Angel Saldana all played the full 90 minutes.
 
Utah Tech men's soccer is back on the road in the next game, facing St. Mary's on Sunday.