Women's Soccer Excitement

The Women's National Team is in the midst of competing in the annual Algarve Cup in Portugal. Yesterday, the U.S. defeated Iceland 2-0 in the opening game of the Cup. Now, they will take on a world class opponent- Norway, tomorrow. This game will be played at 10:00am ET and can be followed on ussoccer.com's Match Tracker. Norway tied Sweden 2-2 in their first game and tomorrow's game is a decider in who will move out of Bracket B, and acquire one more victory in hopes of heading the Championship game which will be played on March 3. In the other group, Germany is on top for now and will compete against Finland in their second match. Stay tuned for more information and results on these exciting games and try to follow along!

It will be especially fun for local Utahns to become familiar with the Women's National Team as they are coming to play in our backyard this spring! Our women will be taking on the Mexican National Team at the top-notch Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah on March 31st. If you are a local or will be around for the game, click here for information and ticket-buying options. If not, the game will be televised live on ESPN2.

Lastly, the Utes will be heading to Texas A&M a week from tomorrow to take on Sam Houston State University as well as the host, Texas A&M. Both games will be played on Saturday, March 6th- watch for updates and results!

Bowling Utes!

The Utes hit the lanes at the Student Union Center on campus last night for a team night! The whole team split up into teams and High School Seniors (who have just recently signed with the Utes) Harley Spier, Cheyanne Mulcock, Percie Allen, and Lexi Krantz also joined us for some on- campus team fun! Although some other teams were pretty confident, Lauren Porter, Christine Quinn, Harley Spier, Hanna Terry, and Allie Wisner pulled off the victory, with a team average of 125!.

The individual champions were:

Gold Medal - Christine Quinn 170
Silver Medal - Monica Okapal 144
Bronze Medal - Stephanie Lemeza 139

Ace reporter (and midfielder) Kellie Woodfield was there to get some interviews and more. Check out some footage of good, bad, and pretty goofy events from the night...

2010 Signee Official Press Release

Sports Information Director, Kyle Harris, has been working hard on this great press release highlighting the impressive talent that our team will be acquiring this fall. Check out the detailed Information Package and become familiar with all of the newest Utes by clicking here!

A Glimpse of Spring Training

Training in the spring is different than during the season- at the beginning, the team is only allowed a certain number of hours together during the week and time spent training with the ball is extremely limited. Because of this, we focus a lot on speed training, strength work, fitness, and just getting some short and sweet playing time in when possible. The video below is from this morning's workouts. First, Coach Willis (our strength and conditioning coach) works on speed and agility with the girls. Next, the team plays a competitive game for about 30 minutes. Finally, the team splits off into groups doing individual training, some doing 'shuttle school' to improve their endurance in the cone shuttle fitness test, oh....and then there's La La (Lauren Hair)- she has mastered cone shuttles and is now in serious training to perfect her flip-throw for the upcoming season. Check it out:

New Ute: Percie Allen - Tough and Athletic

Percie Allen is a native of Utah who is currently at Brighton High School. She is pictured above with her Utah Force coach, Skyler Bell. She is not the first player to join the Ute soccer team from BHS...former team captain Danielle Sample is a Bengal as well. Allen is a defender who will bring a lot of energy and work ethic to our team. She is fast, tough and excellent at defending in one vs. one situations.



Here is what Coach Manning says about Percie:
"Percie was born with an alter ego for soccer. She is mild-mannered off the field, but ferocious once the whistle blows. She is a strong defender with a physical presence. She is a good athlete, crunching tackler and plays with a fearless passion. Percie has played several positions but we see her challenging for a spot in the center of the defense."

Welcome to Utah, Percie!

Utah Grad Amanda Feigt: Great European Adventure!

Former Utah great and Mountain West Conference MVP, Amanda Feigt, is off on a great European adventure! After 3 years as a strength and conditioning coach at North Dakota State University in Fargo, Amanda decided to get back into some serious soccer. So she landed in the Women's Bundesliga in Germany. The German 1st division is probably the most competitive in the world, after the WPS here in the U.S.

Amanda, pictured above right in Berlin with fellow American Kat Tarr from the University of Missouri, was signed by the Tennis Borussia Berlin club for the second half of the season. She just arrived there and is training with her new team as the winter break draws to a close.

Tennis is currently in 11th place in the 12-team league and must climb at least one spot to 10th by the end of the season in order to avoid relegation. Amanda was signed in order to bring some speed to the front line. Ute fans will remember that Amanda was also a standout on the Utah track team, winning the MWC heptathlon championship in 2006.

Check out more at the club's web site by clicking here (site is in German).

Signing Day Recap

What an exciting week last week! We could not be more proud of and excited for our newest class of Utes! Signing day is one that each girl will always remember. Check out a compilation of all of the excited faces of players, friends, and family throughout the process last week! Stay tuned for more photos to come as well as updates on the players!

New Ute: Leslie Muirhead - Conducting the Orchestra

Leslie Muirhead is leaving the beaches of Santa Cruz, California to pursue her soccer and academic dreams in the mountains of Utah. Leslie brings a mature game with her. She is a midfielder with tremendous skills and vision. With the ball at her feet, Leslie conducts the orchestra...making sure the ball is spread around to both sides of the field and finding openings in the other team's defense.

Leslie comes from Harbor High School in Santa Cruz. She plays for the DeAnza Force soccer club. The Force capped a dream-like season by winning the u16 National Championship last summer. We are excited she will be bringing that championship experience and mentality to the U.

Our Women's Soccer Program here at the U is familiar with this club as former standout players Ashley Mason (Goalkeeper) and Melissa Crespo (Midfielder). Her club coach, Shawn Medved, was an outstanding player in the MLS; he scored the winning goal in the first MLS cup for D.C. United!



Here is what Coach Manning says about Leslie:
"Leslie is mature beyond her years and it shows in her game. She has many of the important pieces of a central midfielder in her game. She has soft feet, reads the game well, hits excellent long passes and plays with poise. Her championship experience will help her adjust to the college game as well."



Welcome to the U!

New Ute: Harley Spier - Pulsating Heart and Crunching Tackles

Harley Spier joins us from down south...Lehi, Utah. This defender attends Lehi High School (same as current outstanding defender Nicole Cardon!) and plays for the Utah Avalanche, where
she is currently teammates with incoming freshman Cheyanne Mulcock.

Harley is a tenacious defender. She can disrupt an attack with pesky marking or a crunching tackle. She has a great understanding of team defending. And she is fantastic in the air...the ball seems to be a magnet for her head! Harley will play either in the center of defense or at holding midfield.

Here she is at her signing party with Avalanche:




And here is what Coach Manning has to say about Harley:
"Harley is a very good overall defender. She is incredible in the air. I would guess that she heads the ball as well as anyone on our team. She understands team defense and is a good organizer. We also love the intangibles she will bring to the team... good leader, great teammate, excellent work ethic. Harley spent her junior year fighting off illness and injury and we're excited that she is healthy and coming back into form!"

Welcome to the U!

New Ute: Cheyanne Mulcock - Goal Keeping at its Fiercest

The first thing you need to know about new Ute goal keeper, Cheyanne Mulcock, is the name...it is pronounced "shy - ann"...however, Chey is not shy! She is aggressive about protecting her goal. And she is vocal in organizing things her defense.




Here is Cheyanne (far left) at her signing party on Wednesday with some teammates, including fellow Ute signee Harley Spier (far right)...We love the red!

"Chey" is a from Bingham High School. She plays for Utah Avalanche, one of the best local girl's club teams and the home of current Utah captain Lauren Porter. Chey and Lauren were both coached by former Utah great Jo Barney. Their Avalanche Club Team won the Surf Cup Tournament in the Fall of 2009; quite an accomplishment as they were the first Utah girl's club team to attain this success!

Cheyanne will join current sophomore, Hannah Turpen, and fellow signee Hallie Koeppen to form the goal keeping corps for next fall's Utah team.


Here is what Coach Manning says about Cheyanne:
"Chey is a fierce competitor. She will do everything in her power to keep the ball out of her net. She is a tremendous shot stopper and is great with her feet. Chey is a good leader, which is very important in goal. We love her command of the penalty area as well. She is not afraid to come off her line to cut out danger."


Welcome to the U!

New Ute: Hallie Koeppen - Powerful Presence in Goal

Hallie Koeppen will join returner Hannah Turpen and another new Ute (to be named!) in goal next fall. This outstanding 3-sport athlete will be making the move this fall from our neighboring state of Idaho. Hallie plays soccer, basketball, and runs track in high school! She is tends the goal for the Les Bois Club Team. Koeppen attends Eagle High School, the same high school of former Utah Great Katie Battazzo!

Hallie parents, Dave and Kay, will have some wardrobe choices to make over the next few years. Hallie's older sister, Kim, is a starting center back at the Air Force Academy. Hallie and her sister will definitely be battling it out during Mountain West Conference play!

Here is what Coach Manning says about Hallie:
"Hallie is a tremendous athlete. In addition to playing on a championship soccer team, she has excelled in basketball and track. She brings that athletic dimension to her goal keeping. She is strong in the air and has good foot skills, two things that are important at the college level. Hallie will have a chance to focus on soccer once she gets to the U., and we expect to see tremendous development."

Welcome to the U!

New Ute: Stacey Fujikuni - Silky Smooth from So. Cal

Another player from the rich talent pool of Southern California has decided to come to Salt Lake City. Stacey Fujikuni is a defender/midfielder who joins us from the Real So. Cal soccer club. Stacey can play on either side of the field as an outside back or midfielder.

She will be in good company coming from Southern California. Several great current and former Utah Alums (Chelsea Card, Kiley Jones, Morgan Skeen, Hannah Turpen) have come from her area. Stacey attends Moorpark High School and is a friend of quarterback Brian Blechen who also signed with the University of Utah today!

Here's another bit of trivia: Utah Coach Rich Manning is a childhood friend of both Alberto Bru and Scott Murray, the directors of the Real So Cal soccer club!

Here is what Coach Manning says about Stacey:
"Stacey is a skillful, versatile player. We love her composure on the ball. She holds it well under pressure and keeps things simple when she has it. Stacey can play any position on the left or right side of the field. She comes from one of the top club teams (Real So Cal) in the nation for her age group. She'll be used to the type of competitive environment we have here. She has played in many big games and will bring tremendous experience with her to the U."




Click here to check out a highlight video of Stacey!

Welcome to the U!

New Ute: Jen Ericson - Sacramento Speedster

(photo from Sacramento Bee)
Jen Ericson is a Midfielder/Outside Defender who will be joining us from Sacramento, CA! Ericson attends Christian Brother's High School. She grew up playing for the Boca Jrs. Club, and is now a member of the San Ramon Shock squad. An interesting fact about Jennifer- she was coached as a kid by former University of Utah Assistant Coach Gabe Bolton...small world! We couldn't be more excited to have this young talent joining us this fall!

Here is what Coach Manning is saying about Jen:
"Jen has two qualities that we prize in our players. She has excellent speed and quickness and she makes great decisions with the ball. We value those things highly and that will help her fit right in with our current players come August. Jen has a great sense of the game and has a great passing touch. She is also very comfortable on the left side. She can play on any row. We'll start training Jen in midfield, but she may end up at another spot."

Photos to come...

Welcome to the U!

New Ute: Jenny Hutton - Colorado Connection Continues...

Jenny Hutton is from Colorado and attends Dakota Ridge High School. Hutton plays for the Colorado Rush (she is pictured above at her signing party with Rush director Erik Bushey)..she will have an immediate friend on the team in Katie Martinez (known as K Mart around here) who also played for the Rush growing up. Another connection between Hutton and the U stems from Dominique Barcellona- a pioneer player of the Utah Soccer Program and a coach of Jenny's. Jenny excels at almost every position on the field; she is a talented defender, midfielder, and forward as well. We can't wait to see her on the field this fall!



Here is what Coach Rich Manning is saying about Jenny:
"Jenny is a hidden gem. She had a serious knee injury during her junior year and we feel like she was overlooked because of it. We've seen her play every position on the field and do it well. She is a good leader, tenacious defender, can handle the ball, heads it well, hits great set pieces and is two-footed. Like Katie Martinez, she comes from the Colorado Rush and plays a sophisticated game. We originally saw her play in the back with her team. Since then she has also excelled in midfield and up front. So let's add versatility to the list of her qualities!"

Welcome to the U!

New Ute: Lexi Krantz - Competitive Dynamo

Calling Lexi Krantz competitive would be like calling 7'3" Utah basketball center, David Foster, tall! Lexi's club coach for Impact, Connie Martin, puts it best when he says that Lexi will "fight for every blade of grass on the field".

Click here to watch video of Lexi in action at last May's Utah State Cup!

Lexi is another local gal joining us from just up the road at Skyline High School. This outstanding young midfielder/forward currently plays for Impact and is sure to have a big impact here at the U! Krantz will experience some feelings of legacy when she comes to campus as both of her parents are University of Utah Alumni! Go Utes!


Here is what Coach Manning says about Lexi:
"Lexi is a ball of athletic energy. Her tireless running, physical power and leaping ability stand out immediately. And she is extremely competitive. We have yet to zero in on a position for Lexi, but she will bring these qualities to wherever she plays."

Welcome to the U!

Signing Day is This Wednesday!!

Last year at this time, we were introducing you to our new players such as Hanna Terry... And in 2008 it was a group including Lauren Dudley (here signing to join us)!






Get ready to meet the 2010 Freshman Class for the Utes! This Wednesday is the National Letter of Intent Signing Date for high school seniors. It's an exciting day for us as we officially get to "unveil" our new players. And it's a great day for them as they get to sign at "parties" with their school mates and club teammates.

Bookmark our blog and be checking throughout the day on Wednesday, Thursday and beyond this week. This is the place where we will introduce you to our new Utes. And then click over to www.utahutes.com as we will have more information when all of the players have finished signing.


Here is sophomore Anne Shallenberger scoring for Provo HS in the state title game in 2007.


















This is the place...


Goal keeper Hannah Turpen led her San Clemente HS team to a CIF title in 2008.