The beginning of the 2026-27 season has come for the Utah State Eastern women's soccer team. The Eagles hit the pitch with a young team, just seven sophomores on a team of 30 players. To begin the season, the Eagles took a trip south to face preseason No. 16 Eastern Arizona College in Thatcher, AZ.
The Eagles quickly found themselves in a hole as Eastern Arizona score within the first five minutes of the match. Looking for a response, the Eagles found the back of the net thanks to a Brookley Rasmussen goal in the 27th minute.
The Gila Monsters would score again in the 31st minute and Eastern would enter the half trailing EAC 2-1.
Despite taking three shots in the second half, the Eagles were unable to contain Eastern Arizona. The Gila Monsters would add two more goals in the second half, defeating the Eagles 4-1 in USU Eastern's season opener.
Following a tough opener, the Eagles traveled to the other side the Arizona to take on the No. 2 Arizona Western College Matadors.
The Eagles and Matadors played a scoreless first half, thanks in large part to the efforts of sophomore goalkeeper Haygen Haycock, who recorded 12 saves in the first 45 minutes. Eastern managed just four shots offensively in the first half.
In the second half, the Matador offense became too much for the USU Eastern. Arizona Western scored four goals in the first half, leading to a 4-0 defeat for the Eagles.
Looking for a bounce back, the Eagles will hit the road again next weekend to take on No. 20 Casper College on Thursday, Aug. 27. USUE will then travel to Scottsbluff, NE for a matchup with Western Nebraska Community College on Saturday, Aug. 29. These two games will be the final non-conference matchups for the Eagles.
