This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Big 12 has been kind to the Utah women's soccer team at home historically, a trend the No. 23 Utes will hope continues Saturday in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Utes (11-3-5) are 5-0-1 on their campus against the conference, with Saturday's postseason opener at 1 p.m. against Texas Tech (9-8-2) the first against a Big 12 opponent since 2012 and Utah's first chance to host a tournament game since 2006.
"I am really happy for the players," Utah coach Rich Manning said this week. "For the seniors to get back to the tournament and for the players who have been here the last few years, this opportunity is exciting and I cannot wait to get back to work with them."
Utah finished its Pac-12 schedule last week with a 1-1 draw on the road against Colorado, capping off a conference schedule in which the Utes lost once in 11 games.
The Utes will lean on leading scorer and All-Pac-12 selection sophomore Hailey Skolmoski offensively against the Red Raiders and All-Big 12 goalkeeper honoree Lauren Watson, while Texas Tech freshman Jade King, who leads the team with six goals, will test Utah goalkeeper July Mathias.
This will be Texas Tech's first game against a Pac-12 team in the tournament — the team has an overall NCAA record of 5-3-1 and has made the field of 64 for five years in a row.
"Now we get to go to altitude and play a team that's red hot," Texas Tech coach Tom Stone said. "They're one of the best teams in the Pac-12: very athletic, very well-coached, they're the heavy favorite and I think we can sit in that spot and get ready for them and hopefully give one of our best performances of the year."
After the team's highest regular season point total since joining the Pac-12, the Utes are hoping to make some postseason noise.
"We have been waiting a long time and it is finally here," senior midfielder Katie Rogers said. "The past couple years have been tough but they have been erased with this positive feeling."
Twitter: @BrennanJSmith —
NCAA women's soccer tournament
P No. 23 Utah vs. Texas Tech
At Ute Field
Saturday, 1 p.m.