VICKSBURG, Miss. - The Southern Utah University women's soccer team kicked off the 2022 season in style, securing a 7-0 victory in their first contest of the year against Alcorn State. The win marks a historical event for SUU Soccer, as it was the first time in program history that the T-Birds won their first road game against a Division I opponent. The win also marked the first time in the history of the program that Southern Utah has won back-to-back season-opening contests, and the seven goals were the most that SUU has ever scored in a season-opening match.

"For us to have such a long period of travel, get here late last night, play as hard as we did, and jump on them early, I couldn't be more proud of our team and their performance," said SUU Head Coach Kai Edwards.

Southern Utah's offensive attack got going early, as the T-Birds drew a penalty kick in the first minute of the match, and sophomore midfielder Hailey Hamataka stepped up and laced a shot that hit the left post and went in to give SUU a 1-0 lead. 

The Thunderbirds continued the attack throughout the entire first half, totaling 73 percent of their possession time on Alcorn State's half of the field. After multiple quality shots, Ashley Rivera broke through again for SUU in the 29th minute, after Hamataka beat a defender and placed a perfect cross that Rivera put in the back of the net to make it 2-0 SUU.

12 minutes later, Southern Utah's freshmen attackers got involved, as Annie Haycock sliced through multiple defenders and played a pass to Sammie Sofonia, who had a quality finish for her first collegiate goal, giving the T-Birds a 3-0 lead going into halftime. 

The Thunderbirds maintained a high level of intensity in the second period, continuing to press the attack and create quality chances. In the 65th minute, freshman Addison Larsen scored her first career goal off an assist from Rivera, pushing the SUU lead to 4-0. Just four minutes later, Rivera tallied another assist, as she played a ball into Victoria Caucci, who found the back of the net to make it a 5-0 lead.

Sofonia took over from there, stealing the ball from a Braves defender and ripping a shot past the Alcorn State goalkeeper that slid inside the back post for her second goal of the match in the 79th minute. Two minutes later, Rivera tallied her third assist of the match as Sofonia scored her third goal, securing a hat trick in her first collegiate game and extending Southern Utah's lead to 7-0.

It was a complete team effort from Southern Utah, as the Thunderbirds played all 22 players throughout the night and dominated the match from start to finish.

Notable Stats:

• Southern Utah recorded 31 shots to Alcorn State's nine.

• SUU was thorough in maintaining possession throughout the contest, finishing with 56 percent of possession time.

• Kai Edwards has now led Southern Utah to a season-opening victory in two consecutive years, marking the first time this has occurred in program history.

• Ashley Rivera tied the program record for most assists in a single game with three total assists. 

• Sammie Sofonia is now tied for the second-most goals in a single game in SUU Soccer history, scoring three in her first career match for SUU.

• Megan Short and Naomi Kehl recorded combined to record the shutout in the net for Southern Utah.

Up Next

The Thunderbirds have a quick turnaround, as they will travel to Itta Bena, Mississippi for a match against Mississippi Valley State tomorrow evening at 5 PM MT.

Coach Edwards Postgame Interview

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