OPENING TOUCH: Dixie State continues the 2020-21 season this week with a single game against Utah Valley at Greater Zion Stadium.
Live stats can be found at: https://dixiestateathletics.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary
Live streaming can be found at: https://www.wacdigitalnetwork.com/dixiestate/
TICKETS: There will be a limited amount of game day tickets open to the public for all women's soccer home games. Fans in attendance will need to wear a mask and maintain social distancing practices. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time at dsutix.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 picked up their first Division I against Chicago State with a pair of 4-0 victories Dixie State is now 2-6-1 overall on the season.
GRIFFITHS GETS THE HAT TRICK: Senior
Whitley Griffiths had a hat trick for the second time in her career. She recorded three goals against Chicago State. She currently leads the Blazers with seven goals on the season for a total of 15 points. She earned WAC Offensive Player of the Week for her performance against Chicago State racking up five goals in two games.
DIXIE STATE VS. THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS: This will be the third time Dixie State and Utah Valley has matched up. DSU has a 1-0-1 overall record against UVU in the overall series. The lavst time the two teams met up was in 2007and Dixie came away with a 2-1 victory.
KNOW YOUR FOE: The Wolverines are 6-3-2 so far on the season and 5-2-1 in WAC action. UVU is coming off a 0-0 tie against California Baptist. Sadie Brockbank and Julianna Carter lead Utah Valley in scoring each having four goals on the season.
UVU has fired off 169 shots on the season with 88 on frame and 17 scored goals.
Isabel Jones-Dawe has 822 keeper minutes with a 5-2-2 record and 19 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 get back on the road to take on New Mexico State March 25-26. Dixie State's final home games of the season will be April 1 and Apirl 3 against UTRGV.
