Tucson, ARIZ. – In their home opener, the Arizona Wildcats defeated to the Utah Valley Wolverines by a score of 5-1. Goals were scored by Hannah Stevens (2), Maddie Bennett, Lexe Selman-Richards, and Cali Crisler, with two assists coming from Gabi Stoian.
"I wanted the team to prove who we are and get back to our identity," said head coach Tony Amato. "I thought we did that tonight. I wanted them to be relentless. Over the last three years and three seasons that we have been here, that is what we have been, is relentless. "
In the sixth minute, Paige Crouch took a throw-in from deep in UVU territory that created an offensive chance for the Wildcats, but the play resulted in an offside.
A hard foul on Stoian resulted in a free kick for Arizona in the 14th minute from dangerous territory, but UVU's Sarah Davis swallowed up the cross.
At the sixteen-minute mark UVU made a penetrating play behind the Arizona defense, but the Wildcat defense managed to get a blocker in front of the resultant shot.
A yellow card was awarded to UVU's Abby Jameson in the 19th minute, resulting in a free kick for Arizona. Stevens then knocked in a header from Samantha Falasco's cross to put the score at 1-0.
A handball in the 26th minute gave Arizona's Falasco a free kick opportunity, but UVU's Davis managed to punch the chance out.
At the 30-minute mark Stoian won a ball just outside the 18-yd. box, turned, and ripped a shot just over the left-hand corner of the goal.
In the 38th minute, Bennett was fouled in the box to give Arizona a penalty kick. Erica Stephan took the shot but was stopped by Sarah Davis.
Brynn Moga was awarded a yellow card in the 43rd minute
Right after the second half began, Bennett won a ball in the attacking half of the field and finished it into the back of the net.
In the 50th minute, Selman-Richards gathered a deflected pass at the top of the 18-yd. box and rolled a shot right into the back of the net. This is her second goal on the season.
Stevens scored off a shot from Stoian in the 54th minute to put Arizona up 4-0. This is her second goal of the game and second of the season.
In the 66th minute UVU won a free kick in the attacking half, but Libby Weber's cross was missed by the UVU attackers.
Around the 78-minute mark, Arizona earned a flurry of corner kicks, earning four shots but scoring no goals on the four corners.
In the 81st minute Cali Crisler knocked in a rebound from Gabi Stoian's shot at the 6-yd. mark. This is her first goal of the season.
Arizona is back in action on Friday, Aug. 26 in Lubbock, Texas to take on Texas Tech at 7:00 p.m. PST.
