OPENING TOUCH: Dixie State continues the 2020-21 season this week and is still searching for that allusive first victory of the season. DSU opens the campaign March 11 against Chicago State University (0-7) at noon (MT). The second match vs the Cougars will be noon Saturday, March 13.
Live stats and video information for both matches can be found at
www.dixiestateathletics.com
ENTERING THE WAC: Dixie State enters its first season of Division 1 as a member of the Western Athletic Conference. Dixie State was originally scheduled to play an 18-game schedule including 4 non-conference games and 14 conference games.
COACHING STAFF: Molly Rouse (Minnesota, 2012) is in her first season as Dixie State head coach. Rouse is also in her first ever year as a head coach. Rouse brought with her two new assistant coaches in
Lindsey Dare and
Jennie Clark.
TRAILBLAZERS PICKED SEVENTH IN THE WAC: Dixie State was voted to finish seventh in the WAC women's soccer preseason coaches' poll released on January 28. Seattle U was picked first with five first place votes. Utah Valley was picked second with three first place votes.
2020 PREVIEW: Dixie State returns 10 starters and 13 letter winners from last season's 12-4-6 championship season.
DSU welcomes back six seniors in Jill Bennet,
Adelle Brown, Andrea Camacho,
Kelsey Cook,
Breesa Nawahine and
Sophie Stewart. The Trailblazers have nine juniors and seven sophomores on the squad this year. Dixie State is also welcoming 11 new freshman to the team this year.
SEASON KICKOFF: Dixie State is 8-4-3 in season openers in the NCAA era. They are also 4-1-3 in home openers including this season's 5-1 loss to Gonzaga.
TEAM NOTES: Dixie State is coming off a pair of losses to Seattle and is on a four game losing streak. Dixie State is 0-6-1 on the season.
GRIFFITHS SETS THE BAR: Dixie State's
Whitley Griffiths leads the Blazers with two goals on the season for a total of five points. She scored the lone goal against Gonzaga and Utah.
DIXIE STATE VS. THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS: This will be the first time Dixie State and Chicago State have met up in school history.
KNOW YOUR FOE: The Cougars are 0-7 so far on the season and are coming off a pair of losses to California Baptist each with a 7-0 score. Sara Quevedo has scored the Cougars lone goal of the season. Chicago State has fired off 25 shots on the season with 12 on frame. Stella Chiara Chiaradia has recorded 540 minutes in the net and has allowed 28 goals against in the seven games this season. She's also racked up 42 saves on the season.
LAST SEASON IN THE RMAC: The 2019 season will mark the final season the Trailblazers will be a competing member of the conference. The Trailblazers left their mark on the RMAC as they walked away as Reigning RMAC Champions. DSU ended the season ranked No. 2 in the nation in DII. The Trailbalzers also recorded the most goals in a single season with 56 and the most points in a season with 148.
UP NEXT: Dixie State will return home to host Utah Valley March 20 before hitting the road to take on New Mexico State. Dixie State's final home games of the season will be April 1 and Apirl 3 against UTRGV.
