Men's Soccer | 9/19/2024 11:00:00 AM

Who | Utah Tech (1-4-2) at UC Irvine (1-4-1)
When | Saturday, Sept. 21 – 7 p.m. MT
Where | Anteater Stadium - Irvine, Calif.
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers

Look back at last week
The Trailblazers enters Saturday's action with a 1-4-2 overall record and is coming off a 0-1-1 week at home last week.

The Blazers battled to a hard-fought 1-1 draw against visiting Cal Poly on Monday night.

Cal Poly set the early tone, scoring the game's first goal less than four minutes into play when Bakuena Ramakatsa bent in a free kick from the left wing that was redirected just inside the near post off the head of Mustang midfielder Quinn Mahoney.
 
The Trailblazers finally broke through late in the 44^th-minute when an Anthony Godinez shot caromed off the far post across the frame to Damian Arguello, who quickly chipped the rebound into the net to knot the score at 1-1. For Arguello, it was the senior's first goal in a Trailblazer kit.  
 
Utah Tech had three good looks at a go-ahead goal during the first 30 minutes of the second, but again McCune stepped up to make two more saves, while another attempt sailed high over the frame.
 
The Blazers caught a major break midway through the 78^th-minute when Mustang defender Nico Baltazar drew a red card ejection, forcing Cal Poly to play a man down the rest of the way.
 
Unfortunately, Utah Tech was not able to get another shot off, despite four corner kick chances in the final four plus minutes of regulation, as the Blazers had to settle for a tie. 
 
The Trailblazers outshot Cal Poly 11-10, including a 7-5 edge on goal. Junior goalkeeper Stockton Short collected four saves over the final 86-plus minutes of play.

After playing its first five matches of the 2024 season on the road, Utah Tech finally got to play on its home pitch at Greater Zion Stadium falling to Lindenwood by a heartbreaking 2-1 decision on Sept. 13.

Utah Tech managed to draw first blood midway through the 54^th minute when after a Lion foul just outside the Trailblazer 18-yard box, Anthony Godinez rocketed a left-footed free kick to the upper left corner of the net to put his side up 1-0.

For the junior defender it was his first goal of the season, and the second of his collegiate career.

Lindenwood struck back with the equalizer late in the 72^nd-minute with a John Gates rebound and score. Lion forward Ethan Blake blasted a free kick from 35-yards out that was punched away by Blazer netminder Stockton Short.

Unfortunately, the carom was corralled by Gates, who quickly settled and chipped in the second chance before the defense could fully recover.

The score remained tied until the 88:30 mark, when Lindenwood reserve Anel Kafedzic sent a ball in to Jordan Matthews, who finished just past the diving Short to give Lindenwood its first lead of the night with 90 seconds to play.

Utah Tech wound up with four shots on the night offensively. Short faced 18 total shots in the match, nine on frame, and finished with seven saves in a solid effort in goal.

WAC Rankings
Short leads the WAC in saves (44) & saves per game (6.29) and ranks fifth in save percentage (.759).

Bryce Backlund is seventh in the conference with a pair of assists.

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 UC Irvine
UC Irvine comes into Saturday's contest with a 1-4-1 overall record with a 3-1 win at home over Mercyhurst on Sept. 1.

The Anteaters also have a 1-1 tie against Vermont on Aug. 29, while falling to Oregon State, UCF, South Florida and San Diego.

UCI, who went 9-7-4 overall last season, won the Big West Tournament in 2023. The Anteaters outlasted UC Davis in a penalty shootout before going on to take on LMU in the NCAA Tournament.

The Anteaters rank sixth in the Big West with seven goal scored this season, including a pair by junior forward Agaton Pourshahidi.

In goal, redshirt sophomore Alex Shields has started five of six matches making 22 saves while allowing 10 goals.

Series History vs. UC Irvine
This will be the Trailblazers' second-ever meeting against UC Irvine.

Utah Tech fell on the road, 5-0 in 2021 with three first-half goals and two more in the second half for the Anteaters.

Big West opponents in 2024
The Trailblazers are 1-2-1 this season against opponents from the Big West this season with a 2-1 win over UC Riverside and a 1-1 tie against Cal Poly.

Falling to CSU Bakersfield and Cal State Fullerton, UC Irvine will be the Trailblazers final opponent from the Big West 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 four 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 opens WAC play hosting California Baptist (1-2-3) on Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m.