Week 3: Oregon Soar @ Utah Wild

By Margaret Pugh

Photo by Chanel van Ginkel

The Utah Wild hosted the Oregon Soar on March 28 at Judge Memorial High School. This was the Wild's second match of the season and their home opener. The Wild welcomed family, friends, and fans back into the stands in Salt Lake City and gave them quite a show. 

This was the first match of a doubleheader travel weekend for Oregon, who were traveling to their next game in Colorado after this game in Utah.  

While the Soar ultimately earned the win, the Wild gave home fans a taste of the excitement they can look forward to in the coming season. 

The Wild started the game on defense and maintained a steady lead for the first quarter. The Soar scored first, but the Wild responded by putting up four points in the quarter. A layout from Lily Terpstra earned Utah's first point of the match which was also Terpstra’s first goal of the season. 

Eden Ogren later had a nice catch shortly after a time out, before the disc went to Liz Bunderson who hucked it to Laura Brannan. Brannan held for just a moment before throwing the disc back to Ogren to earn Utah's second point. 

Another huck from Andie Madsen to Bunderson on a break chance would record Wild's third point of the first. 

The Wild's final point of the quarter was a goal scored by Beejee Kratzer. 

We saw more exciting moves from the Wild including an incredible play with Bunderson throwing the disc almost the full length of the field before it was caught by Elise Francis who then floated it over to Kari Shelkey to complete the point. 

The Wild entered the final quarter trailing the Soar 13-10 after Oregon tallied 7 points in the third. 

Utah completed four more points in both the second and fourth quarters, earning two in the third.

Bunderson passed to Lucy Leary who then hucked to Kari Shelkey who scored the Wild’s eleventh point of the afternoon. 

Soon after a rapid series of play ended in a pass from Bunderson to Brannan would give the Wild a break and earn them their twelfth of the match. Lastly, a trust throw from Terpstra to Casstique Williams who lined Kratzer up scored the Wild’s final point of the game. 

Terpstra was a standout in this match, finishing with 54 receptions and three goals. Serena Hochmuth was also an exciting player, Hochmuth made 29 successful completions in this game and finished with an 86% completion rate.

Check the Wild’s schedule to see where to watch their next game and buy tickets!