CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Southern Utah women's soccer team heads down the final stretch of its inaugural Western Athletic Conference season with four conference contests in less than 10 days. This weekend, the Thunderbirds host California Baptist on Friday, Oct. 21 at 3 p.m. before battling Grand Canyon on Sunday, Oct. 23 at 1 p.m. at the Thunderbird Soccer Field.
Match Info
Southern Utah vs. California Baptist
Date: October 21, 2022
Kickoff: 3 p.m. MT
Location: Cedar City, Utah
Stream: ESPN+
Southern Utah vs. Grand Canyon
Date: October 23, 2022
Kickoff: 1 p.m. MT
Location Cedar City, Utah
Stream: ESPN+
Senior Day!
Southern Utah will celebrate its outgoing class prior to the Grand Canyon contest on Sunday. We will be celebrating Rachael Hunt, Julia Hunt and Kate Schirmer as they compete at home for the very last time! The celebration will occur shortly before kickoff at 1 p.m. MT.
Preview
The Thunderbirds head down the season's final stretch after posting a 2-2-1 record in their previous five matches. After a dominant 2-0 triumph against Sam Houston, the T-Birds wound up taking a 1-0 loss to Utah Tech in the follow-up to a lightning-postponed match from earlier in the season.
SUU
Southern Utah owns a school-record nine wins as part of a 9-3-1 overall mark with a strong 4-2-1 tally against Western Athletic Conference opponents.
Offense
The Thunderbirds have been an offensive juggernaut so far this season with a total of 30 goals accumulated against their opponents in 13 matches. SUU features a balanced attack with nine separate T-Birds having scored a goal so far this season. A trio leads the squad with freshman Sammie Sofonia (7), redshirt freshman Whitney Wangsgard (6) and junior Kate Schirmer (4) each having been a force offensively for the 'Birds.
Defense
Redshirt freshman Megan Short has shouldered the load in the net for Southern Utah, having started 13 contests. Short has given up a paltry eight goals against an astounding 147 shots faced, owning a minuscule 0.65 goals against average.
CBU
SUU welcomes California Baptist on Friday. The Lancers own a 6-3-4 record with a 3-2-2 mark against WAC foes.
Offense
The Lancers have scored nearly two goals per game with 25 tallies across 13 matches played thus far this season. Senior Lourdes Bosch leads the way for Cal Baptist with six goals in 12 matches played. She also has turned in a 50-percent shots on goal percentage with a total of 17 shots on goal against 34 shots taken. Bosch is joined offensively by seniors Ari Coronado and Karley Weeks. The duo has each hit the back of the net with four goals apiece.
Defense
Cal Baptist has given up just 1.15 goals per match with 15 goals tallied against the Lancers. Graduate Student Noa Schumacher has spent the bulk of the season at goalkeeper having played in 11 contests and given up each of the 15 goals against. Freshman Mikayla O'Brien has also spent time in the goal, starting two matches and allowing zero goals from 20 shots faced.
GCU
GCU comes to town on Sunday as part of a swing through the state of Utah that begins down south at Utah Tech on Friday. GCU heads into this week with a 7-5-2 overall record, while holding a 3-3-1 mark in conference.
Offense
The Antelopes have also scored a total of 25 goals this season in 14 matches contested. Junior Gianna Gourley is definitely the top offensive threat for GCU having collected 11 of the squad's goals this season. Gourley boasts a 43.5-percent shots on goal percentage from 27 shots on goal against 62 shots taken.
Defense
Grand Canyon has allowed a total of 18 goals this season. Sophomore Jordan Ferguson and graduate student Shantel Hutton have split time in the net for the Antelopes as each has started seven contests so far. Ferguson has given up 10 goals with 63 shots faced, while Hutton has only allowed six goals against 53 shots faced. .
History
SUU holds an all-time 2-3 record against Cal Baptist. The T-Birds are looking for their first win against the Lancers since 2006, having picked up back-to-back wins in 2005 (4-0) and 2006 (2-0). The Lancers, however, are on a two-match win streak with triumphs in 2018 (2-0) and 2019 (1-0)
Southern Utah leads the series against Grand Canyon, 1-0, having only faced the Antelopes in 2014. The Thunderbirds picked up a 2-1 conquest in Flagstaff, Ariz., that year.
Notable Stats:
- T-Bird goalie Megan Short moved up the national rankings in save percentage with a lofty .890 effort, moving up to fifth in the nation from eight overall.
- Southern Utah remains one of the top defensive units in the country, ranking 18th in the NCAA with a .615 goals against average.
- SUU's impressive 2.31 goals per game average ties for 24th in the nation.
- Southern Utah leads the Western Athletic Conference in goals per game (2.31) and corner kicks per game (6.77)
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