Junior forward
Darian McCloy (Herriman, Utah/Herriman HS) scored a goal and assisted on another to help lead Dixie State to a 2-0 non-conference victory over Humboldt State in the Trailblazers' 2016 home opener Thursday night at Legend Solar Stadium.
Dixie State (1-2-0/0-0-0 PacWest) pressured HSU offensively from the opening touch as the Trailblazers registered two quick shots on goal in the game's opening minutes. McCloy then broke through late in the 15
th-minute as she corralled a powerful
Nichole Mertz (Springville, Utah/Springville HS) flip throw-in and an
Alexa Estridge (St. George, Utah/Dixie HS) touch to push the ball passed the Lumberjack keeper into the left side of the goal to stake Dixie to a 1-0 lead.
The Trailblazers netted an insurance goal nearly nine minutes into the second stanza as McCloy secured a clearing attempt and found senior forward
Erica Gonzalez (Avondale, Ariz./Westview HS), who blasted a shot into the upper right corner of the net from 25-yards out to give DSU a two-goal cushion.
Dixie State's defensive third was dominant throughout the match, limiting Humboldt State (1-3-0) to just three total shot attempts, one on goal.
"After two losses last week it was really important for us to get a win tonight," DSU Head Coach
Kacey Bingham said. "From start to finish we feel really good about our performance. We're slowly turning some of our bad habits into good habits."
DSU finished with 16 shots, eight on frame, led by McCloy with four shots (two SOG) and three more by senior midfielder
Alexis Torres (Tucson, Ariz./Palo Verde HS). Senior netminder
Angelica Ciucci (Stockholm, Sweden/Thorildsplans Gymnasium) (W, 1-2-0) stopped the only shot attempt she saw on frame en route to her first collegiate shutout win in goal.
"We know we have a big game ahead of us on Saturday," Bingham noted. "We really appreciated all the support tonight from our student body, administration and fans."
Dixie State returns to action this Saturday afternoon as the Trailblazers host preseason No. 24-ranked Sonoma State at 12:30 p.m. Sonoma State blanked Colorado Mesa, 1-0, earlier on Thursday at Legend Solar Stadium. CMU and HSU will play the first match of the day Saturday beginning at 10 a.m.
