SALT LAKE CITY – Taliana Kaufusi became just the second player in program history to collect two hat tricks in one season and the University of Utah women’s soccer team shook off an early deficit to defeat the Idaho State Bengals, 4-1, on Sunday evening at Ute Field in Salt Lake City.
This victory pushes Utah’s 2024 record to 4-2-2.
“I’m proud of our team for taking care of business today,” said coach Hideki Nakada. :It wasn’t our best performance by any means, but we did what we needed to do and obviously another great performance from Taliana and her teammates did a fantastic job of setting her up for those goals. We will recover and get ready for a big challenge against Texas Tech starting on Tuesday.”
It didn’t take long for Idaho State to get on the scoreboard, thanks to a Daphne Egelhoff goal in the first minute, but Kaufusi soon struck back for the Utes. In the 11th minute, Katie O’Kane sent a long ball forward, over ISU’s back line. Kaufusi out sprinted the Bengals’ defenders to the ball and sent a shot past the goalkeeper that drew Utah level. In the 15th minute, a through ball by Ryann Cull sent Lilliah Blum into the 18-yard box and her cross found Kaufusi unmarked and the senior striker capitalized for her second score of the day.
Utah doubled its lead in the 38th minute, courtesy of Callie Blaylock’s second tally of the year. Bella Ganiere went on a run down the left side of the offensive zone and lofted a cross towards Blaylock, who flicked it past the keeper for a 3-1 edge that held into halftime. Ganiere’s assist counted for her first collegiate point.
Over the final 45 minutes, Utah’s defense shut off ISU’s offensive attack, limiting the visitors to just one shot and ensuring the security of the Utes’ lead. Offensively, Kaufusi found the goal she needed to complete her second hat trick. The Salt Lake City native outmaneuvered a Bengal defender for the ball near midfield and her pass sent Kelly Bullock in on goal. When Bullock’s shot was deflected by ISU’s goalkeeper, Kaufusi was there to knock the ball over the line in the 62nd minute.
Kaufusi is the first Utah soccer player to three goals in a match multiple times in one year since Jacki Doman in 1996 and her nine scores in a season are the most by a Ute since Hailey Skolmoski’s 13 in 2016.
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