CEDAR CITY, Utah. - The Southern Utah women's soccer team closes the curtain on the 2022 regular season this weekend as the Thunderbirds head out on the road.  This weekend, SUU heads north to face intrastate foe Utah Valley on Thursday, Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. MT before flying to the Pacific Northwest to compete against Seattle on Oct. Saturday, Oct. 29 at 2 p.m. MT. 

Match Info

Southern Utah vs. Utah Valley
Date: October 27
Kickoff: 6 p.m. MT
Location: Orem, Utah
Stream: ESPN+

Southern Utah vs. Seattle
Date: October 29
Kickoff: 2 p.m. MT
Location: Seattle, Wash.
Stream: ESPN+

Preview

The Thunderbirds head into the final weekend of the regular season looking for a win before the Western Athletic Conference tournament. Last weekend, SUU participated in one of the most intense scoreless draws one might see with a 0-0 outcome against California Baptist.  The 'Birds then had a tough time against Grand Canyon with a 4-0 loss.

Southern Utah
SUU will be looking to break into the double digits for the first time in program history as the squad already had a school-record nine wins as part of a 9-4-2 overall record.  SUU is 4-3-2 against conference opponents. SUU also will be vying for a spot in the WAC post-season tournament. 

Offense
SUU has been strong offensively this year with 30 goals in 15 matches so far this year.  Nine separate T-Birds have scored a goal this year as part of a balanced attack. Freshman Sammie Sofonia (7), redshirt freshman Whitney Wangsgard (6) and junior Kate Schirmer (4) lead the way for the 'Birds in scoring.

Defense
Redshirt sophomore Megan Short has been strong in the net for Southern Utah with 15 total starts already.  Short has only given up 12 goals in 189 shots faced.  She is still among the best in the nation with a .871 save percentage and boasts an impressive 0.84 goals against average. 

Utah Valley
The Wolverines are on a four-match win streak as the squad from Orem holds an 11-3-3 overall record.  UVU is tied with Seattle for the WAC lead with a 7-1-1 mark. 

Offense
UVU definitely is strong offensively with 44 goals in 17 matches played.  A total of 11 Wolverines have scored a goal, with Heather Stainbrook topping the team with 10 goals scored.  Faith Webber (9) and Julianna Carter (9) make up the bulk of the rest of scoring for Utah Valley. 

Defense
Utah Valley has given up 22 goals this season for a 1.29 goals against average. Idalia Serrano has been the team's starting goalkeeper with 13 matches started and 978 minutes played.  This past weekend, however, Leah Wolf and Hailey Hillock shared duties in the net as Serrano did not play. Serrano has 33 saves against 104 shots faced, while Wolf has 15 saves against 45 shots.  Hillock, meanwhile, has two saves against six shots faced. 

Seattle
Seattle is on a six-match win streak as part of a 10-5-2 mark. The team is 7-1-1 in conference play.

Offense
Seattle is impressive offensively, scoring 36 goals in 17 matches played so far. The Redhawks have had a total of 13 players score in 2022.  U'i Kaaihue and Kaylee Coatney pace Seattle with seven goals apiece. 

Defense
Seattle has given up just 15 goals in 17 matches for a 0.94 goals against average. Jessica Berlin serves as the primary goalkeeper with 15 matches started and 1,309 minutes played thus far.  Berlin has given up just 12 goals against 168 shots faced.  That's good for a .806 save percentage and a 0.82 goals against average. 

History

Southern Utah has a lengthy history with Utah Valley, having played 14 times since first opening up the intrastate series in 2004.  SUU holds a 4-7-3 record against the Wolverines.  The teams are even since 2010 as the 'Birds are 2-2-2 against UVU in the past six contests.

SUU is much less acquainted with Seattle as the teams will compete against each other for the first time this weekend.

Notable Stats

• Megan Short leads the Western Athletic Conference in saves with 81 total saves.  She also stands second in saves per game (5.40) and save percentage (.871)
• Short also stands 14th in the nation with her .871 save percentage, while moving into a 39th-ranked tie with her 5.40 saves per game average.  
• SUU leads the WAC as a team in corners (6.40 per game), which also ranks 31st in the NCAA rankings. 

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