Southern University Utah women’s soccer team faced off against Sacramento State University on Thursday, Sept. 19th. The match resulted in a 2-1 win for the Thunderbirds, followed by their game against Northern Arizona University on Sunday, Sept. 22nd, which ended in a 0-0 draw. This week’s matchups bring the Thunderbirds’s record to 2-5-3 to end non-conference play.
Game one
Sacramento State got on the board first in an intense sequence near SUU’s goal off a shot from Ariana Scholten. Her first goal of the season gave the Hornets a 1-0 at the 16-minute mark.
The Thunderbirds fought on and had a corner kick opportunity 28 minutes into regulation. Rylan Tebbs delivered a great kick that landed at the feet of Whitney Gardener. After taking a few seconds to find the shot, Gardner kicked a goal into the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1. The goal served as Tebbs first assist of the year.
Southern Utah did well keeping control of the ball in the second half. At the 55-minute mark Sarah Assumma passed to Gardner who got the best of the Hornet’s goalkeeper, Izzy Palmatier, scoring the go-ahead goal for Southern Utah in the 2-1 victory.
Game two
The match against the Lumberjacks was uneventful on the offensive end, as the match resulted in a 0-0 draw. The Thunderbirds were down four starters, including the scoring leader Gardner.
The standout player of the game was SUU goalkeeper Darya Mosallaei, who worked the whole game to prohibit NAU from scoring. At the end of play she had a staggering 10 saves.
What’s next?
Southern Utah will open conference play with a road game against California Baptist University on Saturday, Sept. 28th at 7 p.m. This game can be streamed on ESPN+.
Author: Jacob McQueary
Photographer: Katie Anderson
Editor: Jack Paul
