WPSL: Utah Surf opens with 4-0 shutout of City SC-Utah

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The No. 8-ranked Utah Surf kicked off the 2025 season with a big 4-0 road win over crosstown rival City SC Utah at Dumke Field in Salt Lake City.

Saturday’s match was the first and only Wasatch Division game on the schedule. The win puts last year’s division champs at the top of the table, while all six Wasatch Division teams will be in action in Week Two.

Ella Rusick, Emma Granthem, and McKenzie Evans scored for the reigning Wasatch Division champions. Sarah Newman (North Idaho College) earned the clean sheet in goal.

The Surf (1-0-0) took the lead in the 26th minute thanks to a City SC Utah (0-1-0) own goal when Kara Dickey (Westminster University) misplayed a cross from Evans on the left flank. Rusick (Utah Tech University) doubled the lead for the visitors in the 34th minute with a stunning individual effort, beating three defenders off the dribble to finish to the far post.

Granthem (2023) put the Surf up 3-0 nine minutes after the start of the second half, followed by Evans to close out the scoring five minutes later. Evans (2023) returns to the Surf as the club’s leading scorer in 2024 with 10 goals on the season.

The No. 8 Surf will be back in action Tuesday in its second of three games on the road to open the season at Griffins FC (0-0-0). The Surf took both games versus Griffins FC in 2024, winning 4-2 at home and 2-0 on the road three weeks later. City SC Utah hosts the 23rd ranked Utah Avalanche (0-0-0) Sunday at Dumke Field. 

BOX SCORE:

UTAH SURF 4, CITY SC-UTAH

(Saturday, May 1, 2025)

Dumke Field – Salt Lake City

0-1 Kara Dickey (OG)

0-2 Ella Rusick (1)

0-3 Emma Granthem (1)

0-4 McKenzie Evans (1)