CEDAR CITY, Utah-- After a competitive last weekend on the road the Southern Utah University women's soccer team returns home for the final time this season as they take on the Idaho State Bengals Friday, and the Weber State Wildcats Sunday. 

Game Info

Game 13 

Southern Utah vs Idaho State 

Friday, October 8, (4:05 p.m. MT) 

Cedar City, Utah (Thunderbird Soccer Field)

Watch   Live Stats

Game 14

Southern Utah vs Weber State 

Sunday, October 10, (1:00 p.m. MT)

Cedar City, Utah (Thunderbird Soccer Field) 

Watch   Live Stats

ABOUT IDAHO STATE (0-12-1): The Bengals come into Friday winless with a (0-3) record in the Big Sky. Idaho State began the season with a scoreless tie against Utah State before entering this losing spiral. Freshman Forward Deborah Pond leads the Bengals with three of their four goals this season. Pond has also fired 37 shots this year with 15 of them being on goal. Debs Brereton is the head coach of Idaho State. 

OTHER BENGALS TO WATCH: 

Freshman Midfielder Gabby Warta: Goals: 1 Shots: 27 Shots On Goal: 11

Junior Midfielder Karlin Wurlitzer: Assists: 1 Shots: 8 Shots on Goal: 5 

LAST TIME AGAINST IDAHO STATE: SUU last faced the Bengals in a two games series at the end of last season's adjusted spring schedule. The Thunderbirds dominated the first match on Friday, April 8th, winning the game 2-0. The second game Sunday was a different story as the Bengals connected in the 21st minute pushing all of the pressure on the Thunderbirds. Forward Kate Schirmer answered the call in the 47th minute tying the game and eventually sending both teams into overtime. Schirmer found the back of the net again in the 98th minute, securing the win for the Thunderbirds and giving the program its best record since 2007. 

ABOUT WEBER STATE (6-5-0): Weber State comes into Sunday having won their last three Big Sky matchups against Idaho, Eastern Washington, and Idaho State. The Wildcats are led by Midfielder Taylor Slack and Forward Morgan Fumaniak who both have scored three goals this season. Fumaniak also has two assists, while Slack scored two of her three goals in their last matchup against Idaho State. Standing in goal for Weber is Senior Kaytlin Bradley. Bradley has recorded 21 total saves with a .808 save percentage this season. The Wildcats are coached by Craig Sanders. 

OTHER WILDCATS TO WATCH: 

Junior Midfielder Lauren McConnell: Goals: 1 Assists: 1 Shots: 3 Shots On Goal: 2

Senior Midfielder Sadie Newsom: Goals: 1 Shots: 15 Shots On Goal: 9 

Freshman Defender Lily Webster: Goals: 1 Shots: 13 Shots On Goal: 4 

LAST TIME AGAINST WILDCATS:  The Thunderbirds last met the Wildcats in a two-game series during last season. Weber State snuck out with a 1-0 in the first matchup on Friday, March 28th, but the following game Sunday was a different story. The T-Birds came out strong and broke through in the 33rd minute when Jaylyn Barton drilled a penalty kick past the Weber State goalkeeper. Weber State tried to claw their way back into it, but SUU goalkeeper Jennifer Kovisto was dominant on the day, earning ten saves and securing the Thunderbird's first win at Weber State since 2014. 

NOTES AND QUOTES

LAST TIME ON PITCH: SUU last took the pitch on Sunday, October 1st, in Moscow, Idaho, against the Idaho Vandals. The T-Birds came out on the front foot dominating the first half, firing eight shots at the Vandals goalkeeper. Their best chance of the match came in the 38th minute when Hailey Hamataka launched a shot on goal that deflected off the top post and into the reach of the Idaho goalkeeper. The Vandals bounced back after the early push and started to find space for chances, but they weren't able to find the back of the net, sending the game into overtime. In overtime, Idaho nearly found themselves a game-winner in the 95-minute when the Vandals fired a set-piece ball into the box that was headed past the goalkeeper and into the back of the net, but the referees overturned the goal deeming the goal scorer was in an offside position. Each team continued to trade runs down the field, but neither side could find an edge, ending the game in a scoreless tie. 

Edwards on the last matchup against Idaho: "We did very well against a very good team. We should have won that game because we were all over them in the first half, but the team stayed disciplined and earned a point on the road in the second game of the weekend. Amazing effort by this team and credit to our subs who stepped on the field and brought some energy for us. That was the difference."  

Edwards on his team's performance against Eastern Washington: "Credit to Eastern for finding a way. They are very well-coached, have won conference titles, and that experience was the difference. We had chances, missed a penalty kick, and rattled the post. Things are clicking more and we look forward to the challenges coming up." 

• Sunday's draw with Idaho marked the Thunderbirds first out of state point earned in conference play since drawing Montana in 2018

• The Thunderbirds offensive attack has recorded 46 shots since the start of conference play. 

• Midfielders Hailey Hamataka and Kamryn Farro have combined for ten shots on goal in the last three matches.

• T-Bird goalkeeper Megan Short has recorded 71 saves with a .816 save percentage this season.    

For all the latest on Southern Utah soccer, follow @SUUSoccer on Twitter and Instagram, and like the Southern Utah Soccer Facebook page.