Alumni Day Re-cap: Tracy takes the High Road

Former all- Mountain West Conference midfielder, Tracy Stratton Garner, made her comeback on Saturday just a couple of months after giving birth to her second son. Here Tracy introduces us to her sons, Jaden, and Cale (the new one). She also takes the high road when asked to give some grief to former Utes Bobbie Benegas Hackenbruck and Maren Harper for not coming to the event.

Alumni Day Re-cap: Brower vs. Brower

Sisters Amber (Brower) Mortenson and Katie Brower share their feelings about having to face off against each other on the day. It appears they can't remember how much difference there is in their ages...Good thing Amber was an accounting major!

Alumni Day Photos

What would an alumni day be without some photos. Here is the group...a lovely bunch of ladies and a heck of a soccer team. We were VERY impressed with the level displayed by the Alums and may even have to set up an alumni vs. alumni match in the near future!








Amber (Brower) Mortenson, Katie Battazzo and Shauna Gurr-Bingham take a break from the action. The three were teammates in 2002, the first year that the Utes made the NCAA tournament.















Here are a few former greats at half-time...left to right...Paola Marsenaro Sanchez, (Esther Imotan is just behind her), Hailey Marsh, Amber (Brower) Mortenson, and Kim (Lloyd) Gunlock with the big smile. In the background, you can see goal keeper Sara Englis, Becky (Moore) Hatch - who is 4 months pregnant! -, and Lindsey Asay-Kimball.















Ali Cerruti, Esther Imotan and Amy (Kofoed) Stover watch the action from the bench.















Melissa Wayman (back from a stint playing in Norway), Staci (Burt) Delaney - former WUSA standout, and Tracey Stratton Garner (with new baby) watch from the bench. If you look closely right behind Melissa, you'll see one of the original Utes from the '95 team, Tara McNeil in the jeans.


















Esther Imotan, Amy (Kofoed) Stover and Jen Williams take in the action from the bench.
In the background, goal keeper Courtney Hills-McBeth (who is 3 months pregnant) relives old times with classmate Shauna Gurr-Bingham.

Utes Defeat Alums 3-2 in Final Spring Outing

The Utes took on the Utes today in an alumni game filled with good soccer and lots of fun. In a 70-minute match, the current team jumped out to a 3-0 lead before a late rally by the former Utes fell just short.

Utah scorers were Erin Dalley (6th minute), Kelly Isleib (20th minute PK), and Katie Brower (45th minute). The former Utes countered with goals from Erin (Pruitt) Kay and Amy (Kofoed) Stover.

More than twenty former Utah Soccer players came back to Ute field. Many joined in the action and some (due to pregnancies) came to watch.


Mondis (Ariazand) Neff
Lynnsey Asay-Kimball
Katie Battazzo
Amber (Brower) Mortenson
Staci (Burt) Delaney
Jacki (Doman) Cameron
Ali Cerruti
Missy Dennis
Sarah Englis
Shauna Gurr-Bingham
Becky (Moore) Hatch
Addie Hawkins
Courtney Hills-McBeth
Esther Imotan
Kari Keddington-Koon
Amy (Kofoed) Stover
Kim (Lloyd) Gunlock
Hailey Marsh
Ashley Mason
Tara McNeil
Erin (Pruitt) Kay
Tracy Stratton Garner
Melissa Wayman
Jen Williams
Carisse Winegar

Current Ute seniors Chelsea Card, Melissa Crespo, Kiley Jones and Paola Marsenaro also made their alumni debuts.
Thanks to everyone for coming out!
More to follow....

Senior Awards Night a Hit; Kiley Wins Presitgious Honor!

Last night was the Crimson Club Hall of Fame & Senior Awards Banquet at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Salt Lake City. It is one of our favorite events of the year as it is one of the last times that we can get together with the seniors before the chaos of finals and graduation hit.

The room is filled with senior athletes, Utah fans and boosters, coaches and administrators. Mike Lageschulte, the voice of the Utes, was there to host the event. Athletic Director, Dr. Chris Hill, and university president, Michael Young, were also in attendance.

Utah Soccer was well represented as Coach Manning was there with the 4 soccer seniors: Chelsea Card, Melissa Crespo (with mom, Deb Giordano), Kiley Jones and Paola Marsenaro (with husband Pablo Sanchez).

Kiley was honored with the James R. (Bud) Jack Award (for the senior female athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average)...congratulations to her!

The evening was filled with great moments. Utah inducted four new members into its Hall of Fame. Josh Grant (men's basketball), Julie Krommenhoek (women's basketball), Pete Karns (skiing), and Lauda Newlin (track) were all honored for their achievements as Utah athletes (and afterward!). Ms. Newlin was honored posthumously for being a pioneer in women's athletics in the 1920's and 30's. Her son told great stories about his mom high jumping in bloomers and other obstacles that female athletes had to overcome.

There was a video presentation of highlights and "memories" from the seniors of each team at the U. Overall, it was a great night. And, if you noticed that the U on the hill was lit last night, it was in honor of our senior athletes. GREAT JOB, Seniors!

Utes Fall to UVU, Draw with BYU in Provo

Utah soccer continued its spring season Saturday with two outdoor matches held at BYU's campus in Provo. In morning action, the Utes dropped a 4-2 decision to Utah Valley. And, in the afternoon, the Utes played to a 1-1 tie against BYU.

Coach Rich Manning said that the matches are helping greatly in the development of this young team. "We have many new and inexperienced players. And some of our veterans are being asked to play new roles. We are definitely learning some valuable lessons in theses games. For sure, we must defend better as a team. And we also need to handle the big moments of the game better. In the Utah Valley game, we failed miserably in both of these departments. I was pleased that we were able to bounce back in those areas in the BYU game. Both of these team qualities that we want to have require leadership and mental toughness. And we must develop into a tougher team in order to have a successful season in the fall."

In the first game, the Utes started strongly and were rewarded when Katy Reineke and Kelly Isleib set up Erin Dalley in front of goal. Dalley calmly passed the ball into the net for a 1-0 Utah lead in the 7th minute. The Utes looked strong and dominant when the game changed. After a Utah corner in the 17th minute, the Wolverines countered quickly and played a through ball before the Utes could get back and the forward slotted the ball passed Utah goal keeper, Amy Edman for the 1-1 tie. UV took a 2-1 into the half-time break after another goal in the 26th minute.

The lead grew to 3-1 early in the second half with a shot from just outside the penalty area. And the outcome was sealed when a fourh was scored in the 60th minute. Utah kept battling and drew within two in the 74th minute. Kelly Isleib scored from just inside the box after a feed from Erin Dalley. The game ended at 4-2.

The second match against BYU got off to a thrilling start. Lauren Hair hit the post after a nice dribbling run along the left wing in the 7th minute. And Ute 'keeper, Emalee Rogers, was quick off her line to stuff a Cougar through pass just before it was reached by a BYU forward in the 10th minute.

Utah scored first in the 19th minute when Katy Reineke hit one of her now trademark free kicks into the corner of the net from 25 yards out. However, just one minute later, BYU defender Andrea Willis returned the favor when she bulged the net from 20 yards away after a Utah foul.

The game slowed into the second half as both teams tired a bit. Utah played a low pressure defense and prevented any easy chances. Rogers snatched a BYU cross in a crowded penalty area in the 65th minute. And Erin Dalley was stopped by the Cougar goal keeper after getting behind the defense in the 70th. The match ended in a draw.

Team Banquet Night

We held our annual banquet and team awards night at the Joseph Smith building in downtown Salt Lake City. Good food, good company and an original movie (highlight show) by assistant coach, Leslie Keener.

Here is Coach Keener with husband, Jay, as well at Ute soccer trainers, Kristin Schelin and Kai Okitsu.









To the left we see 4 of our freshmen, Lauren Hair, Morgan Skeen , Alyssa Toomey and Erin Dalley, who are roommates in the Sage Point dorms, sharing a moment to take a photo (as if they need another photo together!).











The evening was also a chance to thank our 4 seniors, Paola Marsenaro, Melissa Crespo, Kiley Jones and Chelsea Card, for their service and dedication to our soccer program and for representing the University of Utah so well.
















Paola brought along husband, Pablo Sanchez. Listen to P talk about what's next and how Pablo wants babies...now!!





Below is Chelsea with mom, Sherry, who along with dad, Don, came up from San Clemente, California for the weekend. Sherry reminds Chelsea that soccer is over for now as she must rest those aching knees!



Kiley Jones had her sister, Whitney, and mom, Brooke (also a Utah grad) up from Southern California as well. Here Kiley discusses her Utah career and what might be next...






Melissa Crespo had her mom, Deb Girodano, in town from the Bay Area. Listen to Melissa's thoughts about her last banquet as a Ute player...