The Utah women's soccer team has won a school-record 10 straight games dating back to late September.
While the entire Ute team shares the credit, senior goalkeeper Ashley Mason is a big reason for the remarkable streak.
Get this — Mason has not allowed a goal in nine straight games, including all seven Mountain West Conference victories. That's not only a school record for consecutive shutouts, but a league record as well.
Mason and the 11th-ranked Utes will try to keep the streaks going this week at the MWC tournament, which gets under way Wednesday at Ute Field.
The No. 1-seeded Utes have a first-round bye and will play Thursday at 7 p.m. against the winner of Wednesday's New Mexico-San Diego State match. If they win that, they'll play on Saturday at noon for the MWC championship.
"We've always been a good defensive team since I've been here, but our team defense has really improved during the season," said Ute coach Rich Manning. "With the system we're playing, all 11 players are focusing on defensive responsibilities."
But Manning reserves special praise for Mason, whom he has known since coaching her in California, long before he came to Utah.
"She's been so consistent, and I give her high marks for her composure in big games and big moments," Manning said. "On and off the field, she's an enthusiastic, positive personality to have on our team."
Manning believes a couple of things set Mason apart as a keeper.
"She manages the high balls very well," he said. "That's a high commodity is women's soccer. There are a lot of goalies that can't handle the crosses and high balls."
The other is her leg strength. Mason boots the ball so far you wonder why she doesn't punt for the U. football team.
"She's got to be in the top point-one percent of college soccer," Manning said. "The other team is usually backing up to the 18 (opposite goal box) and it makes so much room for everything. She kicks it so far that it relieves pressure for the defense."
"Ever since I was younger it's been my trademark — 'watch for the big boot.' Maybe it's my big legs," Mason said with a laugh.
If you ask Mason what makes her a great goalie, she said it's being "fearless."
"You can't think you're not going to get the ball," she said. "You've got to say, 'I'm going to make this save and be the difference in the game.' And if you get scored on, you can't dwell on it."
Mason grew up in Sunnyvale, Calif., where Manning coached her on the under-15 northern California team. Mason wanted to go out of state and considered Oregon, Washington State and Richmond, before deciding on Utah after Manning got the job.
"I never in my life thought I would go to Utah," Mason said. "But I am 100 percent happy with my decision."
She became the Ute regular goalkeeper as a freshman, allowing just four goals in 16 games, and has kept the job for four years, with a .693 goals-against average and 27.8 shutouts.
Mason is known as a free spirit who enjoys life.
"She's so funny, even when she's not trying to be," said Manning. "She's cracking us up all the time. I'm always saying, 'Ashley, what are you doing?'"
When asked, Mason shrugs and says, "I'm a little on the goofy side."
She's all business on the field, however, where there is more pressure on the goalkeeper than any other position on the field.
"If a midfielder doesn't connect on a pass, it goes unnoticed. But if a goalie makes a mistake, everybody goes, 'Ohhhhh gosh,"' she said. "You're either loved or hated. But when you make a save and the crowd is going wild and your teammates are screaming for you, it's a good feeling."
Utah soccer
Current ranking: No. 11
Record: 14-4 overall, 7-0 MWC
Biggest victory: 2-1 at Stanford
Team MVP: Ashley Mason, goalkeeper
What's ahead: No. 1 seed Utah faces the New Mexico-SDSU winner Thursday at 7 p.m. in the MWC tournament.
Recent history: Four straight NCAA appearances; three MWC titles in last four years.
E-mail: sor@desnews.com