ST. GEORGE – Utah Tech men’s soccer pulled off a huge statement win at home on Thursday, defeating RV (receiving votes) San Jose State 3-1.
The Trailblazers notched their first conference victory of the 2025 season and their first win over a ranked or RV opponent in five years.
The match began with early intensity from Utah Tech. Sophomore midfielder Dunes Nielsen recorded the first shot on goal just four minutes in, forcing a save from redshirt senior goalkeeper Edgar Guerra.
Nielsen continued to apply pressure and was rewarded in the 14th minute. After receiving a through ball, he fired a left-footed shot past Guerra to give the Trailblazers a 1-0 lead.
San Jose State responded with a spark of their own in the 23rd minute, as junior midfielder Gilberto Rivera tested freshman goalkeeper Luca Campoli with a low shot to the bottom right corner, which Campoli handled with composure.
Just four minutes later, the Spartans found the equalizer. A loose ball in the box fell to senior midfielder Angel Iniguez, who struck it cleanly with his right foot to tie the game at 1-1.
Second Half
The opening 15 minutes of the second half saw both teams struggling to create chances, with neither side registering a shot on goal.
That changed in the 62nd minute when sophomore forward Taylor Rogers reignited the Utah Tech attack. Fifth-year senior Colby Lee delivered a precise cross into the box, where Rogers took one touch and blasted a rocket to the near post, beating Guerra to put the Trailblazers back on top, 2-1.
The Spartans looked for a quick response. Sophomore midfielder Neo Ruiz unleashed a shot from the top of the 18-yard box, but Campoli was up to the challenge once again.
In the 75th minute, Ruiz threatened once more. His initial shot was blocked by a defender, and the rebound fell to sophomore Daniel Fregoso Bautista, but Campoli recovered swiftly to make the save and preserve the lead.
Looking for insurance, Utah Tech found it in the 83rd minute. Freshman midfielder Zach Taylor’s deflected shot landed at the feet of freshman defender/midfielder Mitch Williams, who found himself one-on-one with Guerra. Williams calmly slotted home a right-footed finish to make it 3-1, a scoreline that would hold until the final whistle.
Despite being outshot 18-6, Utah Tech made the most of its opportunities. Campoli finished with a career-best 5 saves, anchoring a resilient Trailblazers defense.
With the win, the Trailblazers improve to 2-5-4 on the season, and 1-0-1 in WAC play.
Up next
Utah Tech (2-5-4, 1-0-1) will host Air Force on Sunday, Oct. 12, at 11 a.m. MT at Greater Zion Stadium.
The match will be streamed live on ESPN+ and can be listened to on 91.3 The Blaze.
Photo courtesy of Utah Tech Athletics.
