OPENING TOUCH: Dixie State will start their 2021 season against the University of California San Diego. The Trailblazers are starting just their second year of their Division I transition into the Western Athletic Conference. Key players like leading goalscorer Idris Alabi, defender Matt Lockwood and goalkeeper Jakob Moore all return from the Trailblazers 2020-21 spring season.This weeks matchup is set for 7:30 PM in Greater Zion Stadium.


Live stats and video information for all matches can be found at www.dixiestateathletics.com.


TICKETS: Tickets can be purchased at dsutix.com.


TRANSITIONING INTO THE WAC: Dixie State enters its second season of Division 1 as a member of the Western Athletic Conference. Dixie State is scheduled to play an 18-game schedule including eight non-conference games and 10 conference games.


DIXIE STATE VS. THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS: Dixie State has faced UC San Diego just one time in it's history. The game was on Sept. 11, 2014 and the Trailblazers saw a 2-1 loss.


KNOW YOUR FOE: Although UCSD did not compete in the 2020 men's soccer season, the team is currently 2-0 in two exhibitions in their 2021 season. The Tritons took a 3-0 win over the Vanguard Lions and a 1-0 win over Cal State San Marcos. The Tritons are a new member of the Big West Conference. This is their first year as a Division I institution after their initial season in the Big West was canceled due to COVID-19.

COACHING STAFF: Jonny Broadhead (Colorado State-Pueblo, 2004) is in his fourth season as Dixie State head coach. Broadhead has a 33-28-3 overall record at Dixie State. He has led the program to 10 or more wins in two of his three seasons at the helm.
Broadhead has brought with him assistant coaches Kyle Coffee and Nick Vorberg who are both in their first seasons with DSU.


TRAILBLAZERS PICKED TENTH IN THE WAC: Dixie State was voted to finish 10th in the WAC men's soccer preseason coaches' poll released on August 17th. Grand Canyon was picked first with six first place votes. Seattle U was picked second with four first place votes. The Trailblazers did not have any members selected to the 2021 Preseason All-WAC team.


LAST SEASON IN THE WAC: The 2020-21 season was the first season the Trailblazers competed in the WAC. The 2020-21 season faced many cancellations and games rescheduled due to COVID-19. The Trailblazers closed the 2020-21 regular season with a 3-6-0 record. DSU's three wins in the 2020-21 season came against Incarnate Word, Houston Baptist and UTRGV, all except the win over Houston Baptist were on the road.


TEAM NOTES: Dixie State's 2021 season marks the start of year two of the University's four-year transition period to the Division I level. The Trailblazers are a member of the Western Athletic Conference and went 3-6-0 in the teams first year.


The Trailblazers are now 95-109-20 all-time since joining the NCAA ranks in 2008.


SEASON KICKOFF: Dixie State is 4-8-1 in season openers in the NCAA era. They are also 3-5-1 in season openers at home. They are 1-3-0 when starting a season on the road.


2021 PREVIEW: Dixie State returns all but one of the teams upperclassmen including key members like Matt Lockwood, Idris Alabi, Jakob Moore, and Michael Cardenas.


The Trailblazers welcome back the majority of their 2020-21 roster due to an additional year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to COVID-19. The Trailblazers have  three seniors and ten juniors on the team this year.


UP NEXT: The Trailblazers face WAC rival California Baptist in a non-conference matchup for game two of their 2021 season. This battle with the Lancers is slated for Aug. 29 at 7:30 PM in Greater Zion Stadium. DSU will then head on the road to face the University of California.