CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Southern Utah University women's soccer team will travel to Vicksburg, Mississippi to open the 2022 season tomorrow night at 5 PM MT against Alcorn State.
Game Info
Southern Utah vs Alcorn State
Date: August 18, 2022
Kickoff Time: 5 PM MT
Location: Vicksburg, Mississippi
Venue: Sports Force Parks
Stream: Unavailable
Live Stats: TBA
Preview
Following a strong training camp that included exhibition wins over UNLV and USU Eastern, Thursday's match will provide Southern Utah with their first opportunity of the 2022 season to display one of the most talented rosters in SUU soccer history.
Alcorn State will provide a stiff challenge for Southern Utah, as the Thunderbirds will look to pick up their second consecutive season-opening victory.
Alcorn State is led by Head Coach Kevin Larry, who is entering his third season at the helm of the program. The Braves finished the 2021 season with a record of 3-14-1; but, they return eight starters from last year, including their top two goal scorers in forward Charlie Bak and midfielder D'Ana Prieto.
The Braves have also brought in some strong talent to their program this offseason, adding 13 new players to the roster this year, including the 2021 West Virginia High School Gatorade Player of the Year, Samara Nunn.
Southern Utah and Head Coach Kai Edwards bring back their top three goal scorers from last season in Rachael Hunt, Ashley Rivera, and Natalia Sepulveda, as well as the program's current leader in career goals scored, Kate Schirmer. In total, Edwards' and his staff bring back 14 players from the 2021 roster, and they have done an excellent job of bringing in new talent to compliment the strong returning core.
Some of the new additions to the program include Arizon State transfer Kiki Stewart, Stephen F. Austin transfer Laney Kimble, and the 2021 5A Utah Women's Soccer Player of the Year Sammie Sofonia, among many others.
As the team has worked to develop chemistry throughout training camp, Thursday night will be the first true indicator of how far the group has come in a short period of time, and how they will work together as a unit with a multitude of talented pieces this season.
SUU will look to start strong and provide early opportunities for a lethal group of strikers who have the potential to break open the game at any moment.
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