By: Parker Haynie- Assistant Director of Communications
CEDAR CITY, UTAH – Southern Utah Women's Soccer has officially announced its 2026 schedule, marking a new era for the program as the Thunderbirds return to the Big Sky Conference and begin their first season under Head Coach Steven Lindquist.
Lindquist, who steps into the head coaching role after serving as the program's associate head coach in recent years, will guide SUU through a competitive slate that features a mix of exhibition matches, non-conference tests, and a full Big Sky Conference schedule.
Head Coach Steven Lindquist said
"We are super excited to be returning to the Big Sky Conference. There are a lot of talented teams and we are looking forward to competing with these programs again!"
The Thunderbirds will open preseason play with a pair of exhibition matches at home, beginning August 5 against Air Force, followed by an August 7 matchup with USU Eastern. The regular season kicks off with a three-match road swing on the East Coast, starting August 12 at the College of Charleston, continuing August 14 at South Carolina State, and wrapping up August 17 at The Citadel.
SUU returns west to face in-state foe Utah on August 22 and at Sacramento State on August 27.
The home opener is set for September 3 against UC Irvine, followed by a September 6 contest against Justice University. The Thunderbirds continue their homestand on September 13 against CSUN before traveling to Boise State on September 17 to close out the non-conference slate.
Conference play begins in October, with home matches against Montana (October 1) and Portland State (October 4). SUU then hits the road for matchups at Idaho State (October 8) and Weber State (October 11).
The Thunderbirds return home for a two-game stretch against Northern Arizona (October 15) and Northern Colorado (October 18), before closing out the regular season away matches with road contests at Eastern Washington (October 22) and Idaho (October 25).
Following a bye week on October 30, SUU will host its final regular season match on November 5 against in-state rival, Utah Tech.
The 2026 Big Sky Conference Championships are scheduled for November 12–15, in Missoula, Montana, where the Thunderbirds will look to make a strong statement in their return to the league.
With a blend of challenging non-conference opponents and a rigorous Big Sky slate, the 2026 season sets the stage for an exciting new chapter in Southern Utah Women's Soccer under Coach Lindquist.
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