CEDAR CITY, Utah -- With five of the six Western Athletic Conference playoff spots already clinched, this is the most important week for SUU soccer all season. The Thunderbirds currently sit in the sixth and final playoff spot, four points ahead of Abilene Christian. SUU needs to win both games, win or tie either of the games (along with ACU) or if ACU loses both games, the Thunderbirds still advance.
This will be easier said than done, on Thursday, Oct. 19, they will travel to Seattle to face fourth-place Seattle University before returning to Utah to take on conference-leading Utah Valley University on Monday, Oct. 23. Both games will be available to stream on ESPN+.
Seattle U
The Seattle Redhawks sit at 6-8-2 overall and 4-2-1 in conference play. They are led by freshman sensation Kailee Wilson, who has three goals and three assists on the season. Defensively, the Redhawks are anchored by freshman goalkeeper Kassidy Kirgan's 57 saves on the season, which is good for fifth in the WAC.
Utah Valley
The Utah Valley Wolverines are 8-3-5 overall and 5-0-2 in conference play. The wolverines feature two top talents, both ranked in the Top Drawer Soccer Midseason Top 100 List. First, they have senior midfielder Heather Stainbrook ranked at No. 83. Stainbrook has nine goals and five assists on the year, which are good for fourth and sixth best in the conference, respectively. The Wolverines also have junior Faith Webber, who is ranked at No. 24. Webber's 14 goals are good for second in the WAC and fifth in the NCAA.
Southern Utah
The defensive leader for the Thunderbirds is sophomore goalkeeper Julia Ortega, who is second in the conference in saves with 83 and sixth in save percentage with .716.
The offensive attack is led by redshirt sophomore Whitney Gardner's four goals and five assists on the season.
Mayu Yamamoto was excellent in SUU's two wins last week, scoring a goal in both contests.
Written by: Aidan Mortensen
Editor: Anden Garfield
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