Men's Soccer | 9/11/2024 4:15:00 PM

Who | Utah Tech (1-3-1) vs. Lindenwood (2-2-1)
When | Friday, Sept. 13 – 7 p.m.
Where | Greater Zion Stadium - St. George, Utah
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers

Who | Utah Tech (1-3-1) vs. Cal Poly (2-3-1)
When | Monday, Sept. 16 – 7 p.m.
Where | Greater Zion Stadium - St. George, Utah
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers

Glance back at matchup vs. No. 18 Portland
Utah Tech bent but did not break in coming away with a hard-fought 1-1 road draw at No. 18 Portland last Sunday night at Merlo Field. 

The Trailblazers quickly drew first blood just 4:03 into the match when Gavin Coe fired in a perfectly placed cross to Austin Wallace, who finished with a brilliant header into the top center of the frame from 3-yards out to put Utah Tech up 1-0.

Portland (2-2-1), which owned a 12-4 edge in shot during the opening 45 minutes, netted the equalizer midway through the 16^th-minute when Nick Fernandez converted a penalty kick chance. 

The two sides battled back and forth throughout the next 50 minutes before Utah Tech was whistled for a hard foul, which resulted in a red card ejection.

Forced to play a man down for the final 33:54 of play, the Trailblazer defense withstood a 10-shot Pilot barrage over that stretch, six of which were turned away by junior goalkeeper Stockton Short, while another two others were blocked by the defensive backfield.

Utah Tech managed to get off one more dangerous chance midway through the 83^rd-minute when Wallace found himself open for a blast in the middle of the Portland 18-yard box. However Pilot netminder Kash Oladapo denied the chance with a sprawling one-handed deflection that sent the ball high over the cross bar. 

Short finished with a career-high nine saves, all of which came after halftime. The Trailblazers wound up being outshot by a 27-7 count on the night, including a 10-5 count on frame. Wallace led the Blazers with three shots – all on frame.

Trailblazers come up short at Gonzaga
Utah Tech surrendered a pair of second-half Bulldog goals in a 2-0 loss at Gonzaga on Sept. 5.

The two sides battled back-and-forth in a scoreless stalemate through the first 60-plus minutes, before Gonzaga midfielder Stefano Campisi managed to sneak a right-footed shot just under the cross bar at the 61:37 mark of the second half for the first goal of the night.

The Zags then tacked on a insurance goal exactly 20 minutes later when Ben Augee took a Drew Pedersen feed and fired home his first goal of the year.  

The Trailblazers, who were limited to only two total shots in the first half, managed to get off seven shot attempts in the second 45, but were unable to crack the scoreboard.

Utah Tech was outshot 15-9 in the match, with Damian Arguello leading the offense with two shots on goal. Junior goalkeeper Stockton Short recorded five saves, four of which came in the first half.

WAC Rankings
Short continues to lead the WAC in saves (33) and saves per game (6.60) while tying for sixth in save percentage (.750) and is ninth in goals against average (2.20).

Trailblazers earn first win of 2024
Utah Tech struck for two goals in a 54-second span late in the second half to rally for a 2-1 win at UC Riverside on Aug. 29.

After surrendering an early Highlander goal early in the 10^th minute, and being limited to only five shots on goal, and 11 total shots through nearly 82 total minutes of action, that quickly changed.

Utah Tech managed to draw a foul deep inside the UCR 18-yard box at the 81:52 mark. Sophomore forward Samir Cuevas was awarded a penalty kick, which he promptly buried into the back of the net to square the match at 1-1.

Utah Tech took advantage of its newfound momentum and quickly regained possession and ultimately earned a corner kick chance. 

Sophomore Manu Monserrat blasted the kick toward the center of the Highlander box, where junior Bryce Backlund managed re-direct the ball past the UCR keeper at the 82:46 mark to stake the Trailblazers to a one-goal advantage.

The Blazers finished with 13 shots, seven on goal, with Cuevas and fellow sophomore Jason Buezo leading the way with three shots apiece. Junior netminder Stockton Short recorded eight saves to earn his first decision in goal.

Look at Lindenwood
Lindenwood enters Friday's contest with a 2-2-1 overall record and will travel to Utah Valley on Monday to round out their road trip to Utah.

The Lions are on a two-match winning streak winning their last two matches with a 3-2 win over Evansville and a 5-0 victory against Westminster College (Mo.).

Lindenwood has scored 10 goals on the season with senior forward Ethan Blake and junior midfielder Matteo Boasso leading the charge with two goals apiece. Blake has added a team-leading three assists for seven total points.

In goal, sophomore Enzo Gil has started four contests while making 14 saves and has posted a .636 save percentage.

Series History vs. Lindenwood
This will be the Trailblazers' second meeting against Lindenwood.

Utah Tech went on the road to St. Charles, Mo., last season coming home with a 3-0 win over the Lions.

The Trailblazers scored all three of their goals in the second half with Wallace notching a pair of goals and got a final scored from Backlund.

Look at Cal Poly
Much like Lindenwood, Cal Poly will also take on Utah Valley this weekend with the two set for a Friday night contest in Orem.

The Mustangs enter this weekend's action with a 2-3-1 overall record coming off a pair of home wins last weekend defeating San Jose State, 1-0 and Gonzaga, 3-0.

After being shutout in its first three games, Cal Poly has recorded six goals from six different Mustangs this season.

A trio of Mustangs have two assists apiece while redshirt freshman Quinn Mahoney has fired a team-high 18 shots.

Junior goalkeeper Nicky McCune has started all six matches only allowing six goals while making 15 saves.

Series History vs. Cal Poly
This will be the Trailblazers' first meeting versus Cal Poly and fourth of five contests this season against a member of the Big West.

Program history vs. Ohio Valley opponents
Lindenwood will be Utah Tech's third opponent from the Ohio Valley.

An eight-team men's soccer league, the Trailblazers have taken on both Houston Christian and Incarnate Word three times and Lindenwood once while never facing Liberty, Western Illinois, SIU Edwardsville, Eastern Illinois or Southern Indiana.

Big West opponents in 2024
The Trailblazers are 1-2 this season against opponents from the Big West this season with its 2-1 win over UC Riverside.

Falling to CSU Bakersfield and Cal State Fullerton, Utah Tech will also take on Cal Poly and UC Irvine this season.

New and Familiar Faces
The Trailblazers welcome 12 newcomers while bringing back 19 returners.

Eight true freshmen along with four transfers (Manu Monserrat, Sawyer Heaton, Daichi Saito and Cole Bradley) highlight the newcomers while the returners are led by Austin Wallace, Samir Cuevas and Bryce Backlund.

Exhibition Play
Utah Tech went undefeated in their three home exhibition matches defeating Mohave Community College, 7-0, tied Salt Lake Community College, 0-0 and closed out the preseason with a 4-0 win over Colorado Mesa.

Road Warriors
The Trailblazers played their first five matches on the road and will travel on the road for five more matches in 2024.

Scoring Machine
Sophomore Austin Wallace returns to the lineup after leading the Trailblazers with five goals and 10 points in 2023.

Up Next
Utah Tech closes out its non-conference action at UC Irvine (1-3-1) on Sept. 21.