Courtesy: Deb Hill Freshman Stacey Brinkman is tied for the team lead with five goals this season.
CEDAR CITY, Utah - Oct. 26 - Southern Utah women's soccer ran its winning streak to three games and have won four of its last five after a 1-0 victory over the Centenary Ladies on Sunday afternoon. The win moves the Thunderbirds to 7-8-0 on the year and 4-3-0 in conference play, while Centenary drops to 2-13-1 and 0-6-0 in The Summit League.
"Every game near the end of the season is a real battle," head coach Brian Stock said after the match. "Centenary really hung in with us and it took us until the second half to get much more dangerous."
Neither team scored a goal over the first 45 minutes with SUU's Stacey Brinkman having the closest attempt as her shot in the 2nd minute careened off the crossbar and out of play.
Southern Utah recorded seven shots over the course of the first half with Centenary taking two.
Brinkman's second shot of the game was the only goal and came in the 64th minute as the freshman beat the CC defense on a counter attack and then beat the keeper from seven yards out on a tough angle for her team-high fifth goal of the season. She is currently tied with senior Shaley Ipson-Allen in the category and leading the team with 12 points on five goals and two assists.
The T-Bird back line was solid throughout the game, allowing only one more shot over the course of the final half. The final attempt on goal for the Ladies was the biggest threat of the game as SUU keeper Sutton Fox was fully extended on her save of the Katie Valdez shot in the 68th minute.
The save preserved the shutout for the Thunderbirds and marked the third consecutive clean sheet for the senior keeper. In all, Fox has not allowed a goal in over 301 minutes in the box.
A Thunderbird win coupled with losses by Oral Roberts and North Dakota State on the day clinched a spot for Southern Utah in The Summit League tournament, Nov. 7-9 in Macomb, Ill.
Southern Utah will wrap up the regular season with a Halloween match against Oakland on Friday, Oct. 31 at 3:00 p.m. Fans are encouraged to wear their costumes for potential prizes to celebrate the holiday.
Courtesy: Deb Hill
