Utah Tech University athletics struggled offensively, going winless with a record of 0-4-2 in all contests throughout the past week, Sept. 15-21.
The Trailblazers opened the week at Greater Zion Stadium playing the California Polytechnic State University Mustangs. Utah Tech worked the game to a 1-1 draw with the Mustangs taking the lead in the fourth minute of the match by Quinn Mahoney. Damian Arguello responded in the 44th minute tying the game and ultimately bringing the match to its eventual final score.
Utah Tech then hit the road for a matchup against the University of California Irvine. UC Irvine hit the pitch ready to play on their home field scoring two goals in the first half, both goals were scored by Agaton Pourshahidi, a junior forward for Irvine.
The second half came with a bundle of goals with both teams hitting the back of the net twice. The Anteaters started the second half by extending their lead to 3-0 before Trailblazer forward Oliver Stone, capitalized on a penalty kick following a UC Irvine yellow card. The Trailblazers followed the penalty up with a header goal by Angel Saldana in the 79th minute to cut the deficit to one before giving up the dagger in the hat-trick goal by Pourshahidi.
The Trailblazers enter a bye week before hosting California Baptist University Oct. 3.
Looking to bounce back from a couple of heartbreaks last week, the Trailblazers continued to an Idaho road trip playing the University of Idaho Vandals in a match filled with second-half excitement. The game was a tale of the two goaltenders through the first half, with a scoreless tie on the board at the break.
The second half started and in the 51st minute, the deadlock was broken by Lataya Brost which held as the only goal for the better part of the second half. The floodgates then opened starting in the 80th minute where the Vandals knotted the game at one a-piece with a strike by Kahvayli Miller.
The Trailblazers’ leading scorer, Lacy Fox, then got a chance from the penalty spot, which was capitalized by regaining the lead in the 88th minute. The Vandals were able to answer, tying the game 2-2 18 seconds later, which held up as the clock struck zero, leaving the Trailblazers with their third straight game without a win.
Portland State University then played host to the Trailblazers in the final non-conference match on Utah Tech’s schedule. The match saw Emily Blanchard open the scoring in the 55th minute after yet another scoreless first 45. The Vikings were able to level the game in the 83rd minute with a lofting goal by Ocean Rideout. That score would remain as the Trailblazers finish non-conference play with a record of 3-2-4.
Utah Tech will remain on the road as they travel to Phoenix, Arizona, to face Grand Canyon University.
The Trailblazers’ home series with Northern Arizona University saw Utah Tech lose in a sweeping fashion at Burns Arena before traveling down to NAU, where the Trailblazers were unable to steal a win in the fifth set.
Game one of the home opener ended 3-0 with Utah Tech losing each set 25-19, 25-23 and 27-25 respectively. Kennedi Knudsen’s 15 kills were unable to lift the Trailblazers over the Lumberjacks.
In game two, the Trailblazers showed a little more grit winning both sets two and three but they were ultimately out-battled losing in five sets with the scores 12-25, 25-22, 25-22, 21-25 and 11-15. Statistically, Nana Asiata shined having 18 kills in the match.
The Trailblazers return to Burns Arena Sept. 26 to host Abilene Christian University.
Utah Tech football struggled to keep the ball on offense in their road matchup against the University of California Davis, giving up the ball on the defensive side multiple times.
Freshman quarterback Reggie Graff out of Dixie High School threw for 95 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in a game where Graff only completed 33% of his passes. Following a three-and-out on UC Davis’s first drive and two consecutive turnovers on the Utah Tech side of the field led to an early UC Davis lead.
After the first half, UC Davis led 18-0 after a missed pat on the opening score and four field goals. The second half had both teams put in two touchdowns, leading to a final score of 32-14. The Trailblazers were outgunned 223 to 417 yards and had 40 less snaps on offense. Utah Tech also was minus three in turnover margin, losing two fumbles and throwing for two interceptions.
In a post-game press conference, head coach Lance Anderson was asked about the defense and how they fought throughout the game.
“The defense fought hard. They had their backs against the wall on many occasions, but they really came out and competed hard,” Anderson said. “To compete against good teams like [UC Davis,] we can’t have those turnovers.”
This loss leaves the Trailblazers with a 0-4 record going into next week’s homecoming game against Abilene Christian.
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