CEDAR CITY, Utah - Sept. 18 - Southern Utah will look to shake off a slow start to the season when the Thunderbirds host the UTSA Roadrunners on Saturday afternoon.  The game will mark the first time the two teams have faced one another on the soccer pitch and second first-time opponent for SUU this season.

“We’re excited to face a new foe in UTSA, in particularly a team from the Southland Conference,” head coach Brian Stock said of the Roadrunners.  “They are a quality opponent and an up-and-coming team in their conference.  This game will allow us to continue in our aspirations of playing the best teams we can.”

The Thunderbirds have had a sluggish start to their season, having gone winless over the first five games this season.  The start is indicative of teams in the past as Southern Utah typically starts slow and then captures wins during the end of the season and during the conference schedule.

UTSA is 3-4-0 on the year with wins over Houston, Texas Southern and North Texas.  The Roadrunners’ losses have come at Rice, Texas and Baylor and a home defeat against Texas Tech.  The game with Southern Utah will be preceded by a match with Utah State on Thursday afternoon and will mark the first time UTSA has played outside of the state of Texas.  The game will also mark the first time Southern Utah has faced an opponent from the Southland Conference.

Kick-off for the match is scheduled for Noon on Saturday and will be the third consecutive home contest for the Thunderbirds.

Scouting UTSA

Texas-San Antonio will enter the match with the T-Birds with a 3-4-0 after wins over Houston, Texas Southern and North Texas.  UTSA will have a game with Utah State prior to playing in Cedar City during the weekend.

The Roadrunners are led in scoring by Veronica Najera with six points on two goals and two assists.  She is followed by four of her teammates, each with four points on the year.

Rachel Francis and Nicoline Joergensen have shared the majority of time between the posts with over a combined 558 minutes in goal.  Both carry a GAA just over 2.00 (Francis - 2.09; Joergensen - 2.11) and have started in at least three games this season.

Head coach Steve Ballard is in his third year with the program and has compiled a 20-22-4 record at UTSA.

SUU Soccer Quick Kicks

Closing on records - Senior Shaley Ipson Allen has now moved closer to breaking the all-time mark in points during her career with a goal during the match with Utah Valley.  The two points brought her total up to 33, only two shy from tying the all-time mark held by Brooklyn Phillips (2004-07).

Quick draw - Junior Makell Hansen scored the fastest goal in school history last week when her shot squirted through the keeper’s legs at CS-Northridge 33 seconds into the match.

Growing up quickly - Freshman Stacey Brinkman leads the Thunderbirds in points with four on two goals during the season.

New “goal”-den standard - Shaley Ipson Allen scored her 14th career goal in the game with Utah Valley, breaking the all-time mark of goals in a career.