NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Aug. 29 - Southern Utah women's soccer put the first lights up on the scoreboard, but found itself trailing when the final whistle blew in a 5-2 defeat at Cal-State Northridge on Friday afternoon.  The loss drops the Thunderbirds to 0-2 on the season while the Matadors improved to 2-0.

Southern Utah struck first, finding the back of the net before the first minute had even ticked off the clock.  Junior Makell Hansen sent a towering shot that ended up bouncing between the keeper's leg for her first goal of the season.

The Thunderbirds held onto the lead for the next 20 minutes until CSUN's Kristal Phillips sent a shot into the goal to tie the game at 1-1.  Nancy Avesyan and Katie Fox were credited with an assist on the goal.

The game remained deadlocked at 1-1 for another 20 minutes until the Matadors scored two goals in the final five minutes of the half to take a 3-1 lead into the break.

CSUN added to the scoreboard early into the second half on a Tryna Tafoya goal, but freshman Stacey Brinkman chipped into lead with a perfectly place header that rolled to the opposite post on a service from Laura Goodrich.  Senior Erica Berlin was also credited with an assist on the play.

The Matadors added their final goal of the game with one second on the clock during the final of 11 corner kicks for the home team.

Southern Utah will look to bounce back from the loss when the team travels for its next contest to Flagstaff, Arizona for a game with Northern Arizona on Sept. 5.