CEDAR CITY, Utah — Southern Utah dominated possession and battled defending Big Sky champion Montana into the final minutes of its conference opener, falling 1-0 on Thursday, Oct. 1, at Thunderbird Soccer Field.
The Thunderbirds kept the match scoreless for nearly 86 minutes, putting five shots on goal in the opening half and receiving a nine-save performance from freshman goalkeeper Tatum Trout. A Montana goal with just 4:04 remaining proved the difference in SUU's first Big Sky Conference match since 2021.
Southern Utah's possession advantage and contributions throughout the lineup provided positives to build on as the Thunderbirds began their conference schedule.
Head Coach Steven Lindquist said:
Possession and First-Half Opportunities
SUU controlled possession and generated opportunities from multiple players, finishing the opening half with six shots, including five on target.
Gracen Blieschke put both of her attempts on frame, while Kayleigh Acree added two first-half shots and forced a save on one. The Thunderbirds also received immediate attacking contributions from their bench, with Ashlyn O'Malley and Sicily Clark each testing Montana's goalkeeper after entering the match.
Those chances gave Southern Utah four different players with a shot on goal before halftime. At the other end, Trout answered with five saves of her own, sending the teams into the break tied 0-0.
Trout Keeps SUU Within Reach
Trout remained a steady presence throughout the contest, stopping nine of Montana's 10 shots on goal. She followed her five-save opening half with four more saves after the break, helping the Thunderbirds remain level as the match moved into its closing stages.
Her effort included second-half stops against Grace Russell, Grace Morton and Shiana Samarasinghe. Trout's final save came before Montana's late breakthrough, preserving the scoreless tie and keeping SUU in position to pursue a result.
Ashlyn Woodbury, Nao Yasuda and Rylan Tebbs each played all 90 minutes, providing a consistent presence in defense alongside Trout. Brooklyn Bradley added 73 minutes as Southern Utah held the defending champions scoreless until the 86th minute.
Contributions Throughout the Lineup
Acree led the Thunderbirds with three shots, while Blieschke finished with two attempts, both on target. O'Malley and Clark each recorded a shot on goal, and Madeline Buczyna and Sophia Memory added second-half attempts.
Southern Utah used nine players off the bench. Buczyna contributed 52 minutes, while O'Malley and Clark each played 33, giving the Thunderbirds meaningful minutes from their substitutes in a closely contested conference opener.
SUU finished with nine shots and five shots on goal. The teams were even in corner kicks at two apiece, and the Thunderbirds were called for eight fouls compared with Montana's 13.
Battling to the Finish
After remaining level throughout the first half and most of the second, Southern Utah conceded the match's lone goal at 85:56.
The Thunderbirds continued pursuing an equalizer in the remaining minutes, bringing Acree back into the match and later adding Buczyna and Karolina Jasaityte. SUU earned a corner kick after the goal, creating another opportunity to attack before time expired.
The narrow finish capped a match in which Southern Utah paired its possession advantage with first-half scoring chances and a strong performance in goal against the reigning conference champions.
Next Up
Southern Utah continues its opening weekend of Big Sky play on Sunday, Oct. 4, hosting Portland State at Thunderbird Soccer Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. MT, with the match streaming on ESPN+.
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