CEDAR CITY, Utah - Junior midfielder Riley Bassett highlighted a record-setting day for
Southern Utah University, scoring a school-record four goals in the
Thunderbirds 8-0 victory over Embry-Riddle University at the Thunderbird Soccer
Field Wednesday afternoon.
SUU improved to 1-1 on the season after
setting school records for goals in a match (8) and total points (21), and also
tying the school record for assists in a match with five. Bassett's four goals
are a school record for goals in a single match, along with her eight points.
Lost in Bassett's record-breaking performance was the impressive day turned in
by junior midfielder Elyse Alexander who finished with a goal and two assists.
Alexander's four points tied the previous school-record.
"The team did a great job of attacking the
goal today," head coach Brian Stock stated. "Riley had an unbelievable
performance today. None of those were easy goals, her teammates were able to
get her the ball in great spots and she had four great finishes. She earned
every one of those."
The Thunderbirds wasted no time in getting on
the board as Bassett took a pass from fellow junior midfielder Michelle Judd,
spun on a defender and fired from just outside the 18 yard box and found the
left side of the net for the score just 61 seconds into the match. Riley struck
again in the ninth minute, one-timing a shot just inside the right post after
receiving a right cross from Alexander.
Stacey Brinkman later posted her first goal
of the young season in the 24th minute, gaining position in the box on a
beautiful left cross from 25 yards out by Katie Saxton and volleying one in for
the score. Bassett picked up the first hat trick in SUU history in the 30th
minute, dribbling into the left side of the 18 yard box and beating the ERU
keeper to the right to make it 4-0.
Southern Utah opened the second half playing
with the same attacking energy as they did throughout the first 45 minutes. Sophomore
midfielder Morgan Bridge picked up her first career goal three minutes into the
second period. Nearly two minutes later, Bassett capped her day by taking
another right cross from Alexander, side-stepping the charging keeper and
kicking in her fourth goal of the afternoon.
Alexander then finished off her career-best
match with her first career goal, beating a defender to the right then lining a
shot over the ERU keeper to make it 7-0. Late in the match, sophomore forward
Missy Lazcano polished off the day with her first goal of the season, winning a
battle for the ball inside the box off of senior forward Erin Wright's corner
kick and knocking in the eighth and final goal of the afternoon.
The Thunderbirds finished with advantages in
shots (19-13) and in corner kicks (9-0). SUU sophomore goalkeeper Charly Booth
made a career high nine saves to post her first career shutout.
"We did a number things very well today,"
Stock added. "Charly looked much more comfortable today. It was good to see her
play well as did a number of players. We played with a great amount of energy
on both ends of the field today and that is something we will continue to build
on heading into Saturday's matchup against William Penn."
Southern Utah will host William Penn
University Saturday at 5 p.m.
