Courtesy: Deb Hill Freshman Riley Bassett was one of three freshman to collect a point during the game.
CEDAR CITY, Utah - Sept. 20 - Southern Utah freshmen played a role in each of the Thunderbirds three goals on Saturday afternoon as the T-Birds beat the UTSA Roadrunners 3-1. The win snaps a five-game losing streak to open the season for SUU, moving the team to 1-5-0 while the Roadrunners leave the state of Utah with losses in Cedar City and Logan and a 3-6-0 record.
Freshman Stacey Brinkman opened the scoring for the Thunderbirds in the 34th minute as she was able to open some space among three defenders and put the ball in the back of the net. The ball was played in by fellow freshman Riley Bassett.
The Roadrunners recorded the equalizing goal a minute later as Eric Mackay's header off a corner kick bounded over SUU keeper McKenzie Hadley. Kari Weiland was responsible for the service. The kick came after a short delay in which UTSA's assistant coach was given a red card and asked to leave the facility after yelling something to her team.
The game remained deadlocked at 1-1 throughout the first half and well into the second until freshman Michelle Judd placed a picture-perfect header in the 81st minute into the goal off a service from junior Makell Hansen from the corner. The goal was her first of the season and first of her collegiate career.
Brinkman found the net for a second time in the waning seconds of the game, ripping a shot from 35 yards and placing it above the outstretched arms of UTSA's keeper. The goal came with 15 seconds on the clock and tied the single-game record for goals, sharing the mark with 12 other Thunderbirds.
Southern Utah had the advantage in shots, 18-8, with eights shots in the first half and ten in the second.
"We talked a lot with our team this week," head coach Brian Stock said after the win. "We have been dominating games early in the season, but we haven't been able to finish. This was a great game as we were able to stay mentally tough and played strong for a full 90 minutes."
Southern Utah will open Summit League play in its next game when the Thunderbirds host Western Illinois, Thursday, September 25 at 5:00 p.m.
Courtesy: Deb Hill
