Dixie State's women's soccer team returned to its winning ways and collected its first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference win with a 4-0 result at Black Hills State Sunday at Ronnie Theisz Field.

The Trailblazers erupted for three first-half goals, the first of which came off the boot of sophomore Ambree Bennett (South Jordan, Utah/Herriman HS) just 1:55 into the match to spot DSU a quick 1-0 lead. Freshman Whitley Johns (Gilbert, Ariz./Campo Verde HS) played a ball to the top of the box to Bennett, who blasted a low shot just inside the near post.

Johns got into the act nearly five minutes later with her team-leading fourth goal of the year when she finished a carom off the post. Sophomore Kelsey Cook (American Fork, Utah/American Fork HS) then gave Dixie State (5-2-0/1-2-0 RMAC) a three-goal cushion midway through the 25^th-minute when the Yellow Jackets could not clear a Kilee Lamb-Allsop (Smithfield, Utah/Sky View HS) corner kick, which allowed the sophomore to settle and fire home a shot into the upper corner of the frame. Cook would go on to notch her first career two-goal match with another score late in the 52^nd-minute.

DSU's defense locked down BHSU (0-9-0/0-4-0 RMAC) for the entire match, limiting the Yellow Jacket to just three total shots, one on frame. Meanwhile, the Blazer offense peppered Black Hills State with 32 attempts, 14 of which were on target. 

"The team came out fired up today after Friday's disappointment [1-0 loss at Regis]," said DSU Head Coach Gerry Lucey. "We needed to get back on track with a good performance and win and we were happy to see both. The pressure, movement and passing was very good throughout and the game gave us opportunities to work on certain elements that we've been stressing the last few weeks.

"We are happy to end a long road collection of games and finally open up at home next weekend against two very strong opponents," Lucey added.

After opening the season with seven-straight road contests, Dixie State finally opens its 2018 home schedule at Trailblazer Stadium next weekend as the Blazers play host to #11 MSU Denver on Friday, Sept. 28 at 7:30 p.m., followed by a Sunday matinée (Sept. 30) vs. Colorado-Colorado Springs at 12 noon.