CEDAR CITY, Utah-- The Southern Utah University women's soccer team dropped a physical, fiery matchup to Northern Colorado, 3-1, Thursday at Thunderbird field. 

With the loss the Thunderbirds dropped to 1-8-0 overall and 0-1-0 in Big Sky play, while Northern Colorado improved to 3-6-2 and 1-0-0 in league competition.

"In conference you either win, lose, or tie, and we didn't win, which is the important part for us right now, '' said SUU coach Kai Edwards. " We gave up a set piece goal very early in the game, but after that I felt that we had enough chances. Our attackers need to run through and find a way to bury the goal, because we definitely have had enough looks. Now the quicker we forget about this game the better, because we need all of our focus to be on Montana."

The Bears got things going immediately. In the second minute, UNC made a deep run inside the Thunderbirds' final third where they earned a throw-in. Northern Colorado's Lexi Pulley flip-threw the ball deep inside the box, where it deflected off of two thunderbirds and spilled over to senior forward Taylor Bury who sent a low shot to the bottom left corner of the net giving the Bears the early lead. 

After the early goal, SUU settled in and started to create chances of their own. Their best chance of the first half came in the 32nd minute, when Junior Forward Kate Schirmer collected a pass inside the box and fired a low shot to the bottom left corner of the net that ricocheted off the post towards a Bears defender who cleared it. The Thunderbirds fired four more shots at the Bears' goalkeeper, but could not break through, sending the Bears into half with a lead. 

Coming out of half, Northern Colorado didn't lose any steam as it continued to put pressure on the Thunderbirds and create chances. The Bears added to their lead in the 51st and 86th minutes of the match.

The Thunderbirds fought hard to get back in it, launching shots on goal, but they couldn't find their way into the back of the net. They finally got onto the scoreboard in the 90th minute when the Bears were called for a hand ball inside their own box, awarding a penalty kick to SUU. Forward Ashley Rivera stepped up to take the PK and drilled it into the bottom left corner of the net, ending hopes of a shutout. 

The T-Bird offense played efficiently on the day as they fired 13 shots,  while also earning 4 corner kicks. 

Ashley Rivera's 90th minute goal is her second as Thunderbird. Forward Evi Anderson led the Thunderbirds with two shots on goal. 

SUU now has a short turn around as it hosts the Montana Grizzlies Sunday, September 24th. Kickoff is slated for 1:00p.m. MT. 

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