CEDAR CITY, Utah – The Southern Utah soccer team wrapped up the 2018 season Sunday afternoon with a 0-2 loss to Eastern Washington.
“This game was about being able to showcase our seniors one last time and I thought they came out and gave it their all,” head coach Fred Thompson said. “Kaitlyn [Caldera] came up with some really good saves and took advantage of her opportunity. I thought our seniors played really well.”
The two teams played to a scoreless draw in the first half with the Thunderbirds outshooting the Eagles 7-5.
The Eagles turned up the pressure in the second half and it paid off as they scored on a penalty kick in the 69th minute and then again in the 87th minute to make it 2-0. The Thunderbirds would not be able to find the back of the net for the second straight game.
“I think we made a lot of progress this season. We got a lot of freshmen a lot of minutes and now they are familiar with the Big Sky,” Thompson said. “They know what it takes to play here and hopefully they understand how small the margins were this year. I like where we are headed and now we will get to add a recruiting class that will make us a little more athletic and a little bit more combative.”
MaKenzie Lawrence finishes 2018 as the leading goal scorer for the Thunderbirds with seven goals on the season. She will remain in a tie for second place in the Big Sky Conference in the same category.
Brianna Aldridge, who did not play in Sunday’s contest, will finish at the top of the conference in saves (102) and saves per game (6.38). Her 102 saves will put her third in SUU history for saves in a single season.
“Kenzie has done a great job for us. She does a lot more than score goals; she brings balls down, plays really well with her back to goal, and brings people into the play,” Thompson said. “Bri is only going to get better. She now has two years of college experience and one year of playing and actual keeper training so now she knows what it takes to be in goal at this level.”
The Thunderbirds will now look ahead to their spring season in 2019.
Story and Photo Courtesy of: SUU Athletics Strategic Communication
