DENVER, COLORADO -- The SUU Thunderbirds were at the University of Denver on Sunday, August 31, competing in their second match of a weekend road stretch, and fell 4-1 to the Pioneers.

Head Coach Kai Edwards said

"One of the better teams in the country went out and won the game. Credit to them. We had some very good moments and controlled most of the second half. They were lethal on the counter and set play and we didn't defend either well enough. The score line is facts. What is also facts for anyone who watched the game was we had some really good moments and long stretches of very good soccer. I'm excited to play one game a week for 4 weeks and get back to training. 

The goal we scored to make it 2-1 was a class cross and finish by Avery and Whitney."

Game Recap

The Pioneers went to work early in the game, with Alanna Raimondo scoring a goal in the fifth minute for DU. The Thunderbirds stayed on the attack with a shot from Aubrie Labno landing on target but not getting past Denver goalkeeper Alina Santos.

Shay Payne made it 2-0 for the Pioneers in the 29th minute, and that score held until the half.

The second half started quickly for the Thunderbirds, with SUU Women's Soccer legend Whitney Gardner finding the back of the net in the 49th minute on a beautiful cross from Avery Kyle. It was Gardner's first goal of the season and moved her into a tie for second on the SUU's all-time points list.

The Thunderbirds created a few more quality chances, but a goal from Emma Thielbahr in the 66th minute dashed SUU's hope of a comeback.

Lilly Lund added another DU goal in the 85th minute to make a 4-1 victory for the Pioneers.

HIGHLIGHTS

Statistical Recap

The Thunderbirds recorded 11 shots in the game, with seven landing on net. 

SUU was led by Sarah Assumma, Nao Yasuda, and Whitney Gardner, who each recorded two shots in the match and one on target.

Jazmyn Brass recorded five saves on 18 total shots in the match.

Yasuda and Brass were the only two Thunderbirds who played all 90 minutes of the match.

Up Next

The Thunderbirds will play host to the Rebels of UNLV for their next match on Sunday, September 7 at 1:00 p.m. on the Thunderbird Soccer Field.

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