This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A glance at Lindsey Luke's hands reveal war wounds.
She's wrapped her right pinky that popped out against Cal, and she's trying to keep it in place. She sprained her left thumb a few weeks back, but that's nothing new: She's probably sprained it four or five times in the 56 games she's played for the Utah soccer team.
But while the senior goalkeeper calls herself "a big softie at heart," there's nothing soft about her resolve — or that of her fellow seniors.
The Utes have had a difficult season. With a 6-10-3 record, that's hardly up for debate. But while 2015 will go down as the second straight year Utah hasn't made the the NCAA Tournament, there's something about this group that last year's team didn't have as the season wound down: the will to compete.
This year's Utes won't match last season's win total, but they'll finish with more wins in conference play.
"We fight," said senior defender Megan Trabert, who beat Arizona State last week with an overtime header. "Considering what we've dealt with in injuries and adversity, we've fought in every game."
Competitiveness can be a cliché for teams with losing records, but it's something Utah had to learn. Luke remembers last year's team crawling to the finish, winning one of its final 11 games.
This year, with seven seniors on the team, Utah has fought. They've been unlucky, losing four Pac-12 games by 1-0, including two against top-25 opponents. But instead of waiting for the season to end, Luke has been able to enjoy soccer again.
"We've realized we have nothing to lose except our pride," she said. "It's a definite step up from last year. We've stuck together."
The adversity hasn't only come in losses: A handful of players have either been injured all season, or missed big portions of it. Utah's second-leading scorer, Mariah Elmer with three goals, has played nine games. Freshman defender Hailey Skolmoski started 14 games before missing the past five.
There's not much that can be done while waiting for injuries to heal, but coach Rich Manning has been encouraged by his team's competitiveness.
"They've been giving everything they have," he said. "We've been growing stronger, no question."
Friday's game against Colorado will be a farewell for some stalwarts, perhaps no one more than Luke: She's posted 24 shutouts in her career, and been named Pac-12 goalkeeper of the week seven times. She's 11 saves from setting the program's career mark in only three seasons.
But Luke is quick to dish credit to the rest of her team, including Trabert, who has started every game in her Utah career. Ali Allen and Baylee Nielsen are seniors on the back line. Kaycee Buckley has been a bright spot in the midfield after missing all of last year.
On Senior Day, the Utes are hopeful that the seniors acan show one more time how much they like to fight.
"I would love to get a shutout," Luke said. "Just one more would be great. But as long as we go out with a win, that's what matters."
Twitter: @kylegoon —
Utah's soccer seniors
D Ali Allen • Started 19 games, led team in minutes, one assist
M Kaycee Buckley • Started 19 games, one goal scored
D Audrey Gibb • Missed season with injury, started 16 games in 2014
GK Lindsey Luke • Started 19 games, 86 saves, four shutouts
D Bailey Nielsen • Started 18 games, 8 shots on goal
D Nykell Seymour • Played in two games, scored goal at Marquette
D Megan Trabert • Started 19 games, one goal, three assists —
Colorado at Utah
P Friday, 2 p.m.
At Ute Field
TV • Pac-12 Network