52 days.
 
That's all the time Lexi Brown had to make her mark on the Trailblazer women's soccer program ahead of the 2023 season. 
 
Announced as Utah Tech's second head coach in the team's Division I era on June 26, Brown took over a program with high expectations after winning 10 games in 2022, yet she had a mere seven weeks to make her mark before kicking off against South Dakota on Aug. 17. 
 
"It was a whirlwind in every way. We had to figure out how to get our life moved to St. George before even focusing on the logistics of the job. And we legitimately couldn't even be with the players until Aug. 1 so that really gave us two and a half weeks or so to really be with the team," Brown said. "In many ways it was stressful, but it in every way, it felt right. 
 
"Finally getting with the team was the most exciting part – just that sense of, 'okay, we can put our cleats on and go do the things that we know are going to have an impact against South Dakota,'" Brown added. "It was it was a lot of getting to know how the team operated and how they responded to us as a coaching staff, and then trying to institute pretty basic tactics to make sure that we were organized, cohesive and were able to play as a unit in that first game."
 
What a difference two weeks can make. 
 
The Trailblazers made no mistake in that season opener, scoring three goals in a road win over the South Dakota Coyotes. A moment to celebrate a job well done and the first victory in Brown's head coaching career, but a daunting task up next: just three days later, they were set to face the reigning Summit League champions in Omaha.
 
Scoreless draw – a clean sheet and points against an Omaha side that went on to fall in the Championship game of the 2023 Summit League Tournament. Not a bad way to start the season.
 
"The first goal that we scored against South Dakota came off a set piece that we coached the team through in practice, so it was really rewarding to see the team execute what we had worked on just four minutes into our first game of the season," Brown said. "That opening weekend was so exciting and so rewarding. There were hard moments, yes, but overall, it was it was so much fun to see things come together, especially in the South Dakota game."
 
Foreshadowing what was to come in the 2023 season, Utah Tech's young players stepped up in a big way during that opening weekend, as six underclassmen featured in the starting eleven that began both games while five others came off the bench.
 
Sophomore Brianna Frey was credited with the first clean sheet of her career in the process as the likes of Jordyn Denton (redshirt-freshman) and Lacy Fox (sophomore) both got on the scoresheet with assists. True freshmen Michelle Rodriguez and Mauri Ashman also made an impact on the Trailblazer lineup in their first appearances at the collegiate level.
 
"We realized early on that so much of our talent lies in our young players and we really wanted to invest in those young players early on," Brown said. "Jordyn was a player who played zero minutes her first year, and she came in and she had some big-time starts for us this season. She literally won us some games with some goal line saves.
 
"Mauri played a ton of minutes for us in the midfield as well. She's not necessarily a flashy player, but she's someone that wins balls back and does a lot of the dirty work," Brown added. "Pairing that young talent with some of the experienced players on our roster was huge because we definitely want to continue investing in our young players both for the present and future."
 
After a frustrating 1-0 loss to an Idaho side that would go on to win 12 games and play in the NCAA Tournament, Utah Tech quickly bounced back with an exciting home win against Mountain West side Nevada, defeating the Wolfpack 2-1 at Greater Zion Stadium. Emily Garbett scored her first goal of the season with an incredible effort off a direct free kick from some 30 yards out, while Lacy Fox scored an 80^th minute game-winner for her first of the season.
 
The Nevada goal would prove to be the first of many for Fox, who went on to score in five-consecutive games near the mid-way point of the season to finish with seven goals, which tied for the team's top mark. After a brace against Colorado State, the Highland, Utah, native was named TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week.
 
"From the first practice we knew that Lacy was a player who could potentially be really special for us. She has the work rate, the grit and the mentality of a high-level athlete," Coach Brown said. "She's a player who can be really special as she goes forward into her career."
 
Despite the momentum, Utah Tech faced stiff opposition in the next three games, playing against three teams that finished their 2023 campaigns with double-digit wins, falling to Montana, then-ranked No. 24 Gonzaga, and Northern Arizona.
 
"I think we were intimidated by that weekend which caused some questions in our mentality because those three games were really, really hard and the team was in a tough place," Brown said. "What it came down to was we needed define who we were as a unit… we took some time to talk things out and get our heads right but ultimately left those games in the past."
 
"I like to tell the team that it's okay to be upset and angry. It's okay to be frustrated. But we only have so long before the next practice and next game and if we want to be better, we need to take what we can from tough losses to help us improve and throw away the rest," team captain Brynlee Rider added. "Take moments from each game where we have a solution and use that solution in the next one. It can be easy to dwell on the 'what ifs' of a game, but focusing on what we can control is huge."
 
Much like it did early in the year, Utah Tech responded in a resounding way, going on a 10-game unbeaten streak that featured six wins and a number of key results. 
 
After a Fox goal sealed a 1-0 home victory over Portland State, the Trailblazers headed north to play Colorado State on the road, where Fox would convert two early chances before Ella Rusick scored her first career goal on a corner kick. Rusick's goal came with just 32 seconds remaining in a contest that had been delayed multiple times due to lightning in the area.
 
"That Colorado State game was one of the most memorable games of my career. We battled weather delays, a weird playing surface and a bunch of bad weather, but our girls wanted the game desperately to get their minds right," Brown said. "There was a sense of belief going into that game and the way the way it played out, you couldn't have written it better.
 
"When (Rider) stepped up to take that corner in the 90th minute, you felt that something special might happen, and then to see Ella Rusick get her head on it and put it away, I'll never forget that feeling… That game brought us a sense of belief," Brown added.
 
Using the momentum of that 3-2 win in Fort Collins, the Trailblazers defeated Idaho State at home three days later in an exciting matchup. Rider scored the opening goal in 12 minutes in but ISU responded shortly after, and both offenses went quiet for some 50 minutes.
 
The final 20 minutes of play against Idaho State were loaded with fireworks, however, as a 70^th minute Tessa Thornton goal was leveled in the 73^rd, Karli Heaton put away her first of the season in the 75^th minute but was leveled in the 80^th, before Fox put the nail in the coffin with yet another game-winning goal in the 86^th minute.
 
"We didn't play our best against Idaho State after coming home from Colorado, but there was a sense of belief. We gave up some ugly goals, yes. But it always felt like we were going to find a way – a sense that you knew it was coming," Coach Brown said. "That was such a memorable weekend that was really important in getting us back on track prove to ourselves what we're capable of."
 
After a 1-1 draw against Southern Utah, the Trailblazers welcomed two more high-quality opponents into Greater Zion Stadium and finished with points, starting out by using what Coach Brown described as a "gutsy" performance to complete a 2-2 draw against California Baptist. 
 
Just three days later, Utah Tech held Gianna Gourley without a goal in a 1-1 draw against Grand Canyon; Gourley went on to finish the season with 21 goals and five assists as the Lopes fell to No. 8 USC in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament. 
 
Gracie Knutzen played a huge role in the success against CBU and GCU, as Utah Tech's senior captain played every single minute and was credited with an assist against GCU, her first of the season. Her success, combined with two key results against top-quality opponents, led to Knutzen earning recognition as the WAC's Defender of the Week on Oct. 3, the first weekly honor in her Utah Tech career.
 
Though having hard work recognized by the conference was rewarding, she was quick to note that her teammates played a huge role in that success.
 
"It was very rewarding because I put in a lot of work this year and I was grateful to be recognized," Knutzen said. "Even though I did put in the time, I credit my teammates a lot for elevating my game because the whole team puts in so much work and we push each other to be better every day."
 
With a 3-0 win over SFA and another shutout against UTRGV the following weekend, Bryanna Hofheins was named WAC Goalkeeper of the Week on Oct. 10, finishing with 10 saves against the Lumberjacks across 17 shots faced in the first start of her collegiate career.
 
"We talked a lot as a team this year about Hof's performance because it's a perfect example of just being ready for your moment," Brown said. "She never complained once about her situation but instead was well prepared, knew it was her opportunity and made some big saves for us."
 
Utah Tech then put the exclamation point on its 10-game unbeaten streak with a pair of 3-1 home wins over Tarleton State and Abilene Christian. Rider scored her seventh goal of the year and added an assist in the win over ACU, tying for the team's top mark in goals scored while the assist was her team-leading sixth of the season.
 
Utah Tech struggled in the final weekend of play, falling to Utah Valley and Seattle U on the road. Despite falling in the standings, the Trailblazers still qualified for the 2023 WAC Tournament, its second appearance in as many years. With a loss to the eventual champions Grand Canyon, Brown's first season leading the program officially came to a close.
 
Coaches among the WAC took notice of the Trailblazers' success throughout the season, however, as six players earned recognition in the postseason awards.
 
Both Rider and Knutzen were Second Team All-WAC selections with Rusick landing on the All-Freshman Team as Rodriguez, Garbett and Thornton all received votes. 
 
For Rider, the All-Conference selection only motivates her to be even better in the future.
 
"Coming off an offseason surgery, I decided that this season was for me and that I could be whatever player I wanted," she said. "I put my head down and worked all summer to change my mentality and improve my skills as a player, and it was amazing to see that hard work pay off while proving to myself that I can break even the limits I place on myself… it makes me hungry for more." 

Just two weeks after the season's conclusion at the WAC Tournament, Utah Tech welcomed 10 new faces to the program, signing Emily Blanchard (South Jordan, Utah), Bre Koscielski (Colbert, Wash.), Ella Cotter (St. George, Utah), Ali Warner (Fort Collins, Colo.), Lexi Nelson (West Jordan, Utah), Jenna McDonnell (Fremont, Calif.), Adele Faller (Orem, Utah), Ema McIff (Pleasant Grove, Utah) and Allison Flies (Apple Valley, Utah) on National Signing Day, also adding Kyah Le (Spokane, Wash. / Gonzaga) via the transfer portal.
 
The success for Trailblazer women's soccer in 2023 wasn't just on the field, as five players were recognized by College Sports Communicators (formerly College Sports Information Directors of America / CoSIDA) as Academic All-District selections.
 
When looking back on the year, Brown says it's the resilience and hunger of this team that she's most proud of.
 
"I'm just so proud of just the resilience and the grit that we showed. It wasn't the ideal situation for our players to experience a coaching change so close to the season, but they showed a lot to buy in to a new system," Coach Brown said. "We went through plenty of ups and downs throughout the year; we won some great games, we lost some really difficult games, we had some great ties, we had some really bad ties, but we fought until the bitter end.
 
"I truly believe we're only seeing the tip of the iceberg in terms of what this team can be."
 
So… what's next?
 
For starters, the Trailblazers will have a number of familiar faces back for next year. With 22 of the record-setting 26 goals returning, both Knutzen and Rider have both opted to utilize their extra year of eligibility from the COVID-impacted season to return for one final run.
 
"Simply put, I love the game," Knutzen said. "I have an opportunity that not many athletes have, so I wanted to take it. Plus, I love the team and the coaches, which made it easy to come back and work for another season." 
 
Added Rider, "You only get so long to play the sport you love."
 
With a set of exhibition games slated for the middle part of the spring semester, Coach Brown and the rest of her staff now have time to work with the team's skills both tactically and technically ahead of the 2024 season.
 
"I love the offseason. I love the work, I love the mentality that it teaches, and I love the opportunity it presents to teach more of the tactical side of things while helping the players understand all the nuances of what we're asking of them," Brown said. "We have a ton of work and difficult schedule in front of us, but I definitely think that work combined with the amount of talent we have will lead to the success we're striving for."
 
Not bad for a program that played its first game just 52 days after welcoming a new head coach.