Laurynn Ziller’s heroic save prevents disastrous ending for Arizona soccer

The match between Arizona soccer and Utah was headed for a scoreless draw. It wasn’t what Wildcat fans wanted or maybe even what the team needed if it wants to play in the Big 12 Tournament. It was better than the other option, though.

That other option was heroically staved off by UA goalkeeper Laurynn Ziller. She saved her fourth penalty kick of the season and preserved the 0-0 draw in Salt Lake City. The keeper has faced five PK this year, allowing just one to score.

After battling for 89 minutes and 35 seconds, Arizona faced a devastating possibility. Senior defender/midfielder Trinity Dorsey grabbed a Ute by the jersey and pulled her down in the box. There were 25 seconds left, and the officials called the obvious foul.

Wildcat head coach Becca Moros challenged, hoping against hope that it would be overturned. Earlier in the match, defender Zoe Mendiola knocked a Utah player down in the box and the officials didn’t award a PK despite Utah’s challenge. This review didn’t go in the Wildcats’ favor. The call was upheld.

Utah’s Nevaeh Peregrina stepped to the spot. She hesitated for a considerable length of time, hoping against hope that Ziller would get anxious and commit.

The Wildcat keeper was as steady as always, staying put on her line in the middle of the goal until she had to move. It was low and just to the right of center. Ziller knocked the ball out, recovered, and jumped on top of it to secure it from a possible rebound goal.

The Utes showed obvious devastation. The win and three much-needed points were at their fingertips. Instead, they ended the night tied with Cincinnati for 12th in the league. The Bearcats and Utes are both 1-4-2 with five points.

Three points on the road would have been huge for the Wildcats after they picked up six at home last weekend. They now have an overall record of 5-5-5. Their conference record is 2-1-4, giving them 10 points. Those 10 points are tied with Arizona State for the ninth-most in the Big 12, but Arizona has two fewer losses than the Sun Devils.

The Wildcats had other opportunities. The best one came in the 56th minute. Forward Jessica Bedolla made a good run to get in the center of the box with Utah’s goalkeeper way off her line and the Utes in defensive disarray.

It seemed to be an open goal for an eternity, but Bedolla just couldn’t pull the trigger quickly enough. When she settled and took the shot, keeper Anna Solomon had recovered enough to deflect the ball. It kept the match at 0-0.

Utah had a slight advantage in possession with 55 percent over the full 90 minutes. It was especially big in the second half when the Utes had possession 58 percent of the time. They spent over 10 minutes in the second half in their attacking third.

The Utes outshot the Wildcats 12-5 in the match. That number was 9-3 in the second half.

Utah had a 4-2 advantage in shots on goal with all four of its shots on frame coming in the second 45 minutes. Arizona had one SOG in each half.

Despite the increased pressure, Arizona’s defense held strong in the second half. Junior Evie McCarthy stood out. She subbed into the game in the 67th minute and made life extremely difficult as Utah tried to play wide.

The game in Salt Lake was Arizona’s only outing this week. The team returns home where it awaits No. 17 Colorado on Thursday, Oct. 22. The Buffaloes are 8th in the Big 12 standings with a 4-3 record, giving them two more points than the Wildcats.