Arizona Soccer opens Cats Classic with easy win - Tucson News Now

TUCSON, AZ – Arizona women's soccer team picked up their first win of the Arizona Cats Classic with a 6-1 triumph over Southern Utah Friday night at Murphey Field at Mulcahy Stadium.

Arizona (4-0-3) came out strong on offense with Ana-Maria Montoya scoring the first goal for the Wildcats in the fifth minute crediting Jazmin Ponce with the assist. In the 23^rd minute, Ponce recorded her fourth goal of the season off a penalty kick, her second goal off a penalty kick this year.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Lopez recorded her first goal of the match after a breakaway, one-on-one matchup with Southern Utah goalkeeper, Tessa Christensen. Lopez then recorded another goal for the Wildcats five minutes later to give Arizona a 4-0 lead going in to halftime.

"In the first half we started off with great energy feeding off a great crowd tonight," head coach Tony Amato said. "Our tempo and rhythm was great and as a result we scored four goals in the first half. That changed the tempo of the match for both teams."

In the second half, both Alexa Montgomery and Candace Edwards recorded their first goals of the season to add to the six total goals for the Wildcats. Arizona out-shot Southern Utah (2-4), 26-5, with junior transfer Alexandra Doller pacing the Wildcats with four.

Goalkeeper Gabby Kaufman started in the net for the Wildcats and recorded a total of two saves while goalkeeper Alison Gondosch started the second half and picked up one save. Thunderbird goalkeeper Tessa Christensen recorded six saves of the 26 shots she faced.

"The defense has been something we have been working very hard on and want to improve on," Amato said. "It wasn't perfect tonight and we need to keep improving on different situations. We're going to have to do better in certain defensive situations especially against a great team like Texas Tech."

Up next, Arizona will face off against No. 24 Texas Tech on Sun., Sept. 15 at 1:30 p.m. to conclude the Arizona Cats Classic. The match will be held at Murphey Field at Mulcahy Stadium. 

In the first match of the Arizona Cats Classic, No. 24 Texas Tech (6-1) defeated Arizona State (4-2) 1-0 in an overtime dual. With 32 seconds remaining in the first overtime period, Briana Rohmer was able to score the game-winning goal off a cross from teammate Jaelene Hinkle. Arizona State is set to play Southern Utah on Sun., Sept. 15 at 11 a.m.

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