Thunderbirds Held Scoreless in Season Opener

CEDAR CITY, Utah - Aug. 22 - Southern Utah women's soccer came up scoreless in the first game of the season as UC-Riverside spoiled the Thunderbirds' home opener with a 5-0 victory. The win is the first for the Highlanders (1-0-0) and marks for the first loss for SUU (0-1-0) in the opening game for both sides.

"I would have preferred a different result today," head coach Brian Stock said. "But, when our shots were hitting the cross bar, they were able to tuck theirs in the corners. Both teams gave their best and it would have been a tough one to call if people weren't able to see the scoreboard."

UCR opened the scoring as 2007 Big West Player of the Year Tessa Lennala converted a penalty kick after being brought down in the box by the Thunderbird defense in the 17th minute.

Southern Utah's best scoring threat of the first half came in the 31st minute as Kristen Fronk sent a careening ball of a free kick that ricocheted off the cross bar, just missing the goal by a matter of inches.

The Highlanders added another goal late in the first half as Ciara Hilpert put the visiting team up 2-0 on a ball shot across the box. Katie Sheldon was credited with the assist.

Lennala picked up her second goal of the game minutes into the second half (45:27) on an assist from Kristy Adcock with UCR's Sarah Mohammadi scoring a few minutes later (48:40) on a direct kick into the top corner of the box, making the score 4-0.

Riverside added one more goal in the 70th minute as Loana Holness scored her first goal of the season to make the game 5-0.

Southern Utah was out shot 12-9 during the contest as the Highlanders used a total of 29 players to the Thunderbirds 16 during the game. The loss left SUU winless against UCR in the four meeting between the two schools.

The T-Birds will now have a week off before their next match when the team will travel to Cal-State Northridge for a game with the Matadors on August 29.

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Players Mentioned

#3 Kristen Fronk: D; 5' 6"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#3 Kristen Fronk
: 5' 6"; Junior
: D

Players Mentioned

#3 Kristen Fronk

Players Mentioned

#3 Kristen Fronk