After a record-breaking season-opening road trip, the T-birds opened the home portion of their schedule with a chance to make more history.
Facing the UTEP Miners of Conference USA, SUU needed a victory to set yet another school record. A win would not only mean extending its best-ever start to a season, but four wins in a row would tie a program record for the longest winning streak.
Team spotlight: SUU soccer smashes school records during opening week
Early in the match, the T-birds looked like they were well on their way to another victory. In the seventh minute, Whitney Wangsgard slotted home her third goal of the season for the 1-0 SUU advantage.
The Miners were finally able to break through in the 76th minute, leveling the score.
The T-birds however would not be denied a win on their home field, conjuring up some late heroics.
SUU was able to force a mistake from UTEP, resulting in a penalty call against the visitors. In the 86th minute, Hailey Hamataka stepped up and buried the kick, putting the hosts on top.
The T-birds were then able to ride out the final moments, securing the 2-1 victory and adding to the history books.
Freshman sensation
After scoring a pair of hat tricks in the opening two matches of the season, forward Sammie Sofonia was named the WAC’s Offensive Player of the Week.
The six goals set a program record for the most in a two-game stretch, and she now needs just three more goals to set the new single-season scoring record.
Up next
The T-birds will host South Dakota next, looking to extend their winning streak to five matches.
The match will take place on Friday, Sep. 2 at 4 p.m. MT and can be streamed on ESPN+.
