ST. GEORGE, Utah -- In the first regular season match of their adjusted 2021 spring schedule, the Thunderbird soccer team played to a draw against the Dixie State Trailblazers on Sunday afternoon, 1-1.
Southern Utah got on the board in the 34th minute, as newcomer Kate Schirmer put one in the back of the net for the Thunderbirds. Schirmer transferred to Southern Utah from Snow College following a prep career at Lone Peak High School.
Rachael Hunt was credited with the assist on Schirmer's goal.
SUU got its first goal of the year out of the way early this season, as during the 2019 campaign it took up until the seventh regular season match for the Thunderbirds to get a point on the board.
The Thunderbirds held a 1-0 lead going into the break, only allowing the Trailblazers two shots in the opening 45 minutes.
Dixie State got on the board in the second half, as Madison Henderson got her squad on the board in the 69th minute. There was no assist credited on Dixie's goal.
From that point on, neither team was able to convert on a second goal, and following the traditional two overtime periods the match ended in a draw.
Jennifer Kovisto played the whole match at goalkeeper for the Thunderbirds, and finished with six saves.
Schirmer ended the match with two shots for Southern Utah, both of which were on goal.
Of Southern Utah's nine shot attempts, seven were shots on goal, for a 78 percent average.
For Kai Edwards, this was his first regular season match as head coach of the Thunderbird soccer team after working at the university for over a full calendar year.
Next up for the Thunderbirds will be a two-match series against the University of Northern Colorado that will start on March 12, and wrap up on March 14 in Greeley. The T-Birds will play their first home match of the spring against Northern Arizona on March 19 at Thunderbird soccer field.
Stay up to date during the 2021 Thunderbird Soccer season by following @SUUSoccer on Twitter and Instagram and liking the Southern Utah Soccer page on Facebook.
