ST. GEORGE — A season-opening road trip to the University of South Dakota yielded a victory for the Utah Tech women’s soccer team Thursday.
The Trailblazers defeated the Coyotes 3-1 at First Bank and Trust Soccer Complex in Vermillion. Thursday’s win was the first in the head coaching career of Lexi Brown and gives the team some momentum heading into a Sunday matchup at Omaha.
“This game was a battle but that’s exactly what you’d expect in an opening day road game,” Brown said in a Utah Tech Media Relations news release. “We have plenty of room to grow and moments we can learn from but overall I’m proud of the way we played. It’s a great place to start and we look forward to building on this performance when we face Omaha on Sunday.”
Brianna Frey started in net, and Utah Tech wasted no time getting on the board as Brynlee Rider broke things open just over 3 minutes into the game. Off a feed from Emily Garbett, Rider finished low and to the left of the goalkeeper to put the Trailblazers ahead 1-0.
The Yotes responded quickly with a goal a minute later, but neither team would score again until the second half.
“We had a ton of players get their first collegiate minutes and they showed really well,” Brown said. “It was also great to rely on some key returners to get us on the board in (Rider) and (Kearney Hoggan).”
Lacy Fox found Rider, who finished above the goalkeeper’s head to put UT ahead with 30 minutes remaining in the game.
The Trailblazers’ final tally came with 5 minutes remaining when Hoggan found the net off a feed from Mauri Ashman.
The Utah Tech offense out-shot South Dakota 13-9 with a 5-3 advantage in shots on goal, as Rider and Tessa Thornton both led all attackers with three shots. Hoggan and Nikkie Scott would also finish with two shots off the Utah Tech bench.
Next up for the Trailblazers is another road game against the Omaha Mavericks Sunday at noon.
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