(St. George, Utah – Aug. 24, 2023) Utah Tech women's soccer hosted the Idaho Vandals at Greater Zion Stadium on Thursday, falling 1-0 in a close contest. The result moves UT to 1-1-1 on the young 2023 season.
 
"This was a unique game for us… we sat in a deeper block and were really able to pick a lot of passes off, make them try to solve our defensive block, and I thought we did a really good job with that for about 70 minutes," head coach Lexi Brown said after the game. "Obviously they broke it the one time but I thought we did a really good job in that sense.
 
"We just need to do a better job of maintaining possession and keeping the ball as we go forward, just building our attack a bit – we're good in transition but we need to be able to keep the ball a little bit better."
 
Kearney Hoggan and Hanna Carlisle both made their first starts of the season as the Vandals came out with early pressure. Utah Tech managed and looked poised to take a lead as the game approached minute number 20.
 
After a Brianna Frey save, the Trailblazers pushed the ball into enemy territory, with Hoggan beating her defender but putting a shot into the goalkeeper's feet in the 17^th minute. Just 70 seconds later, after Brynlee Rider turned the corner and played a ball across the face of goal, Hoggan was able to sneak in for another shot but her attempt went high and the game remained level.  
 
Idaho found other scoring opportunities late in the latter portions of the first half that were blocked by Trailblazer defenders, and the game was level at the break.
 
After holding the game scoreless for over 75 minutes, UI found its break with a goal in the 77^th, and UT was unable to counter as it went final, 1-0, in favor of the visitors.
 
Hoggan's two shots led the team as Utah Tech finished with five shots, one of which was on goal. Brianna Frey made five saves in net while the Trailblazers drew five Vandal fouls and one yellow card. Frey along with Ella Carmody, Gracie Knutzen, Mauri Ashman and Michelle Rodriguez would play the full 90 minutes.
 
Trailblazer women's soccer hosts Nevada on Sunday. Kickoff against the Wolfpack is slated for 1 p.m.