Women's Soccer 10/28/2011 12:21:00 AM SUU Strategic Communication

Thunderbirds Defeat Coyotes for First Summit League Victory

CEDAR CITY, Utah – The Southern Utah offense was on the attack Thursday as six different Thunderbirds tallied goals to help SUU to a 6-1 victory over the University of South Dakota. The T-Birds tallied the first two goals of the match and then netted three more in the first half after allowing the Coyotes to get on the board for a 5-1 lead at the break. Senior midfielder tacked on another goal in the final minutes for the final margin.

“We have played this way all season, just not with the same results,” explained head coach Brian Stock after the game. “I think we learned an important lesson last week and our players realized that we need to be as good as we are.”

The Thunderbirds showed that they can be very good as their offensive execution led to their highest goal total of the season. Southern Utah would open the scoring in the 19th minute when junior forward Shelby Ostler used a well-timed run to get to a ball played behind the South Dakota defense by Morgan Bridge. Ostler gathered the ball and fired a shot over the goalkeeper to give SUU a 1-0 lead. The Thunderbirds were able to extend that lead just a few minutes later as Elyse Osborne found the back of the net from the right side of the box to make the score 2-0 in favor of the home team.

South Dakota cut the lead in the 25th minute when freshman midfielder Kylee Willer was able to elude Thunderbird defenders and roll a shot past goalkeeper Charly Booth and into the net. Willer's first career goal set the score at 2-1 with SUU still leading.

Southern Utah would answer in the 32nd minute as Missy Lazcano took a pass from Sabrina Hernandez and was able to evade a Coyote defender and drive a shot past the keeper for her fifth goal of the season. Lazcano would then pick up an assist just moments later after firing a shot that was deflected by the goalkeeper to Stacey Brinkman who deposited the ball in the net to put SUU up 4-1. With less than a minute remaining in the first half Brinkman would also earn an assist on a deflection as sophomore forward Sabrina Hernandez was there for the put back to give SUU a 5-1 lead.

The Thunderbird defense held the Coyotes scoreless in the second half and senior midfielder Riley Bassett drilled a shot from 25 yards out to help Southern Utah pick up its first Summit League victory of the season by a final margin of 6-1.

“I'm very proud of the way we won the second half and finished the game,” stated Stock. “Our defenders often don't get credit for how well they play but they are all very talented players.”

With the win Southern Utah improves to 1-7 in conference play and 3-11-3 overall. South Dakota drops to 1-6-1 in their first year as a member of the Summit League.
The Thunderbirds will wrap up their season this Saturday as they host the UMKC Roos. The senior members of the team will be honored in conjunction with the match, which is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#10 Riley Bassett: MF; 5' 11"; Senior

#1 Charly Booth: GK; 5' 8"; Junior

#9 Morgan Bridge: MF; 5' 7"; Junior

#7 Stacey Brinkman: F; 5' 8"; Junior

#20 Sabrina Hernandez: F; 5' 6"; Sophomore

#6 Missy Lazcano: F/MF; 5' 6"; Junior

#5 Elyse Osborne: MF; 5' 4"; Senior

#23 Shelby Ostler: F; 5' 5"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#10 Riley Bassett
: 5' 11"; Senior
: MF

#1 Charly Booth
: 5' 8"; Junior
: GK

#9 Morgan Bridge
: 5' 7"; Junior
: MF

#7 Stacey Brinkman
: 5' 8"; Junior
: F

#20 Sabrina Hernandez
: 5' 6"; Sophomore
: F

#6 Missy Lazcano
: 5' 6"; Junior
: F/MF

#5 Elyse Osborne
: 5' 4"; Senior
: MF

#23 Shelby Ostler
: 5' 5"; Junior
: F