DRAPER — Either the Utah Spiders are really good, or the San Francisco Nighthawks are not, because the Spiders were dominating in their inaugural game Saturday night with a 5-0 victory.
"At this point we're only going to get better," Utah coach Marco Rossi said.
Rossi figured he had a good team, what with a roster full of standout collegians. What he wasn't sure about, however, was how they'd mesh. Because of university commitments, many of the players weren't released by their respective colleges until Friday, meaning Utah's first fully-attended practice was the day before its first game.
In fact, Utah's Jill Jakowich admitted after the game there were still a few teammates' names she's yet to learn.
It didn't really seem to matter.
Perhaps it was only fitting that one of the most exciting players in Utah's brief collegiate history, former BYU All-American Maren Hendershot, scored the Spiders' first-ever goal. After receiving a cross from Sarah Reading in the 10th minute, she unspooled a low rocket into the goal from about 12 yards away.
"That was one of my goals, to come out and set the standard, somewhere to begin from," Hendershot said. "That's how I wanted to start my post-collegiate career."
Hendershot figured into the scoring again 15 minutes later, this time setting up fellow Cougar Kim Lowe.
"We're better than what you saw (tonight)," Hendershot said. "We haven't even gelled yet."
That was pretty much the sentiment by all the Utah players after the game, that and the fact the crowd of more than 2,000 at Juan Diego High School more than exceeded their expectations.
It's safe to say the play of Utah also exceeded the expectations of The Nighthawks, whose average team age is about 27 while Utah's is near 20.
While it was disappointing to watch his team get spanked by the Spiders, Taylor isn't expecting a similar result next month when Utah travels to San Francisco. The Nighthawks only suited up 13 players, and the altitude killed the sixth-year franchise as much as the Spiders did. San Francisco even had its back-up goalie playing in the field at times. The Spiders used 19 different players in wracking up the victory.
Former Ute striker Joanna Barney, who played with a bulging disc in her back, tallied two scores in the second half, and Hendershot added another on a penalty kick.
It's tough to find flaws in a five-goal victory, but that's Rossi's job, and the breakdown in the final 15 minutes was something to work on. He felt his team lost its formational shape in the waning minutes; if fatigue hadn't been such an obvious problem for San Francisco late in the game, the Nighthawks probably would've avoided the shutout.
With a few more practices, and some better finishing, the Spiders had many unmarked chances sail wide or hit the posts; they could contend for the Women's Premiere Soccer League title.The Spiders next home game is July 1 against the Vancouver Angels.
You can reach James Edward by e-mail at jedward@desnews.com