CEDAR CITY, Utah -- After opening conference play with a draw on the road against Utah Tech, the Southern Utah University soccer team will host their next two opponents. Thursday, Sept. 28 will see Grand Canyon University on the Thunderbird Soccer Field and Sunday, Oct. 1 will have California Baptist University facing SUU. The games are at 4 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively, and both can be streamed on ESPN+.
Grand Canyon
The GCU Lopes are currently 7-4-1 and 1-0-1 in Western Athletic Conference play. They are coming off a 4-0 loss to Utah Valley University.
Gianna Gourley leads the Lopes in goals with 11, eight more than the runner up. She is tied for No. 1 in the WAC and No. 5 in the nation in the category. Meanwhile, Leah Pirro leads the team in total assists with nine, first in the conference and tied for second in the nation.
DeAira Jackson has been protecting the net for Grand Canyon and has amassed 41 saves through their 12 games. She has shut opponents out in half of their matches while allowing just one goal per game on average.
SUU and GCU are both 1-1 against each other since 2014.
California Baptist
So far, the Lancers are 6-4-1 overall and 1-0-1 in conference play. Last time out, they topped Seattle University 1-0. They will face Utah Tech University prior to playing the Thunderbirds.
Despite only playing in seven of CBU's 11 matches, Marcella Brooks leads the team in goals with five. Thirteen different players on the Lancers' roster have contributed at least one assist, though no one has more than two.
Goalkeeper Noa Schumacher has played every possible minute for CBU. Her .55 goals against average is No. 1 in the WAC and No. 24 nationwide. She has collected 35 saves and five shutouts while keeping a WAC-best .854 save percentage.
Competition between CBU and SUU dates back to 2002, and the Thunderbirds are 2-3-1 against the Lancers.
Southern Utah
Still seeking their first victory, the Thunderbirds are 0-5-5 on the season and 0-0-1 in WAC play. They are returning home following a 1-1 draw at Utah Tech.
The team's leader in goals Sammie Sofonia has three goals and three assists for the Thunderbirds. Whitney Gardner has assisted every Sofonia goal up to this point, and she has four assists total on the season.
With 64 saves, Julia Ortega is second in the WAC. This has given her 6.4 saves per game and a .744 overall save percentage.
Quotes from Kai Edwards
"We are playing two very tough opponents this week. It is going to take a total team effort, and I know we are up for the challenge."
Written by: Anden Garfield
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