The No. 1-seeded Salt Lake Community College Bruins defeated the No. 4-seeded USU-Eastern Eagles 2-0 in the Scenic West Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals on Thursday, October 29, 2026, in Herriman, Utah. The victory allows Salt Lake to advance to the Region 18 Championship game against Snow College.
Bruins Secure Early Advantage
The Bruins secured the shutout victory through two first-half goals. Midway through the opening half, Salt Lake earned a penalty kick after being fouled in the box, which Seanna Harris converted to provide a 1-0 lead. Shortly after the penalty, Oakley Zenger scored in the 26th minute following a pass from Brooklyn Jones that took a fortuitous bounce off the turf.
Salt Lake Defensive Performance
Salt Lake maintained offensive pressure throughout the match, landing 10 shots on target. Goalkeeper Manaka Shindo recorded a clean sheet, making seven saves during the contest. The win brings the Bruins' record to 14-1-3.
Eagles Struggle to Score
The Eagles entered the postseason as the No. 4 seed and faced a significant challenge against the top-seeded Bruins. While the first half saw the Eagles record four shots and force two saves from the Salt Lake goalkeeper, they could not overcome a two-goal deficit before halftime.
Haycock Sets Program Record
Despite the loss, the Eagles increased their offensive pressure in the second half, recording nine shots to try and close the gap. However, the Bruins held on for the 2-0 win, aided by seven saves from Eagles goalkeeper Haygen Haycock. Haycock finished the year with 104 saves, establishing a new single-season record for the USU Eastern women's soccer program.
Historic Season for Eastern
The 2026 season was a historic campaign for the USU-Eastern women's soccer program. The Eagles finished with an 11-6-2 overall record and a 9-3-2 mark in conference play. The team's nine conference wins established a new program record, and their 11 total victories marked their most in a single season since 2017. Additionally, the team's .632 winning percentage was their highest since 2016.
Top Offensive Performers
Offensive leaders for the Eagles included Brookley Rasmussen and Paisley Ashworth, who both finished the season with 10 goals apiece. Ashworth achieved double-digit goals for the second consecutive season.
Looking Ahead
Salt Lake Community College is scheduled to face Snow College in the 2026 Region 18 Championship game on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 11:00 am.
