Utah Utes soccer: Team takes on TCU in MWC tourney

The season hasn't gone quite as expected for the Utah women's soccer team, but the Utes still have a chance to reach their goal of making the NCAA Tournament.

The 9-9-2 Utes, who finished third in the Mountain West Conference regular season, will take on TCU today at noon at BYU's South Field in Provo.

Coach Rich Manning believes his team has overcome a midseason slump, when it won just once in nine games, and is playing well heading into today's tournament, which continues Thursday and concludes with a final game Saturday at noon.

"We've played really good soccer lately and have improved as the season has gone along," he said. "We didn't always get the result we wanted, but I feel good about the season."

The Utes have had one of their most inexperienced teams ever, playing eight sophomores or freshmen among their regulars.

Senior Kelly Isleib has led the way again this year with seven goals and five assists, and she is the Utes' all-time career assists leader with 28. Sophomore Erin Dalley also has seven goals, while freshman Hanna Terry has five. Junior Lauren Hair leads the team with six assists.

The Utes defeated TCU last month in Salt Lake City 3-1 in what Manning called one of the Utes' better games of the season. He says the Horned Frogs play a "wide-open attack" and that forwards Jordan Calhoun and Lizzy Karoly, who have scored eight and five goals, respectively, can score at any time.

"I always enjoy playing them," he said. "They like to attack, and it's an open game. I look forward to another good match."

The Utes have been free of injuries most of the season, with backup goalkeeper Emalee Rogers the only player out with a broken wrist. Hannah Turpen has started 19 of 20 games in goal, and Shay Kennedy has returned to the team in case the Utes need a backup.

If the Utes win today, they'll take on No. 2-seeded San Diego State on Thursday at noon. The Utes and Aztecs battled to a 1-1 tie in their regular-season meeting in San Diego.

Utah won two MWC tournament titles, in 2003 and 2004, and also reached the finals in 2000, 2006 and 2008. They'll need to win this week to get to their first NCAA Tournament since 2006.

"This will be another new experience for us, but I'm confident we'll give a good performance," Manning said.

Today's games

No. 3 Utah vs. No. 6 TCU, noon

No. 4 New Mexico vs. No. 5 Wyoming, 3 p.m.

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