CEDAR CITY, Utah - Hailey Hamataka found the back of the net on a penalty kick after Kate Schirmer was fouled in the box with just over four minutes to play, and the Southern Utah University women's soccer team remained undefeated Thursday afternoon, earning a 2-1 victory over UTEP.

"We just flat out-competed," said SUU Head Coach Kai Edwards. "Sometimes you just have to find ways to win, and this team found a way tonight."

Southern Utah began the game with a high level of intensity, putting the pressure on the UTEP back line early. After taking three shots in the first six minutes of the match, Addison Larsen played a pass into Whitney Wangsgard who found herself in a one-on-one opportunity with UTEP goalkeeper Mariah Scott. Wangsgard laced a shot past Scott that went just inside the left post, giving SUU a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute.

The teams continued to battle throughout a physical first half, as SUU held onto a 1-0 lead entering the break. Southern Utah held a 9-7 advantage in the shot count at halftime, and the T-Birds spent 60 percent of their possession time on UTEP's half of the field in the first period.

The physical play continued in the second half, and both teams went scoreless for the first 26 minutes of play. The Miners finally broke through in the 77th minute, as Justice Tillotson evened the contest up, managing to score off a rebound following a save by SUU goalkeeper Megan Short. 

Southern Utah responded by pressing their attack again and putting significant pressure on UTEP's defenders. With just over four minutes to play, Kiki Stewart played a near-perfect free-kick in behind the Miner's back line that Schirmer was able to chase down before getting tripped up from behind by one of UTEP's defenders, earning a late penalty kick.

With the game tied and the pressure on, Hamataka stepped up and calmly put it in the back of the net, giving the T-Birds a 2-1 advantage that they would not relinquish for the remainder of the match.

The win continued Southern Utah's record-setting start to the 2022 season, extending what has been the most consecutive victories to start a season in program history. SUU's four-game winning streak also matches the longest winning streak in Southern Utah soccer history.

Notable Stats

• Thursday's win was Southern Utah's first-ever against UTEP, as SUU entered the contest 0-4 all-time against the Miners.

• After scoring a goal in the first half, Whitney Wangsard now has three goals on the season.

• Southern Utah earned five corner kicks to UTEP's two. 

• SUU recorded 14 total shots throughout the match.

Coach Edwards Postgame Interview

Up Next

After playing four games in seven days to begin the season, SUU will now have a week off before returning to the field next Friday. The Thunderbirds are set to host South Dakota with kickoff scheduled for 4 p.m. MT. 

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