Trailblazers women soccer recorded its first shutout of the year with a 3-0 win over North Dakota State on Sunday morning.
WHAT HEAD COACH MOLLY ROUSE SAID: "We are very excited about today's complete team performance. After Thursday's match, we shifted our focus to being more connected as a unit tactically. We knew that NDSU would come out with good energy and we aimed to be better organized in the first ten minutes of the match. It was great to see multiple players make it onto the score sheet, while the group worked hard to secure our first shutout of the season. Ultimately, today was an excellent display of a solid team performance. We are looking forward to carrying this energy into our next match against Idaho State on Friday."
HOW IT HAPPENED: Dixie State wasted no time getting a jump on North Dakota State. At the 9:15 minute,
Kelsey Cook attacked by taking the ball through four defenders to find herself in a one-on-one with the keeper. A quick maneuver and Cook sent the ball low into the right side of the net to give the Blazers an early 1-0 lead.
DSU had one other shot in the first half at the 37th minute. Brynlee Roberts had a shot on frame but couldn't get the point. The Trailblazers allowed just two shots in the first half and neither of them were on frame.
The Trailblazers captured the momentum early in the second half thanks to a goal in the 49th minute. DSU drew a corner kick. McKinley Barney took the kick and dropped it short to Cook who was waiting just outside the 18 yard box. Cook sent it into the net and freshman Kalea Woodyatt was there to head it into the upper 90 past the NDSU keeper.
With a 2-0 lead, DSU tightened up on defense and continued to carry the momentum. The Blazer defense only allowed one shot the entire second half. Meanwhile, the Blazer offense went off for 10 shots in the second half.
In the 74th minute Dixie State scored its third goal on the day. Cook took the ball from a throw in and drove it to the right side of the 6-yard box and the end line. With the Bison's keeper focused on Cook, she dropped it to a waiting Madison Henderson in the middle of the keepers box to sneak it into the left side of the net.
The Trailblazers locked in the shutout with a 3-0 win as the clock hit 90 minutes.
STAT BREAKDOWN: Kelsey Cook led the Blazers with one goal and two assists. There were five Trailblazers who recorded two shots a piece for the game high.
Kayla Gonzales started in the net for DSU and came away with the shutout and two saves.
Dixie State ended the game with 13 total shots and eight on goal while NDSU ended with four total shots and two on goal.
NOTES TO KNOW: Dixie State is now 2-2-0 overall on the season. This was the Trailblazers first shutout of the year. The Blazers have recorded six goals on the season, with three of those (including today's) coming within the first 10 minutes of the game and four goals within the first 10 minutes at the start of any half.
Cook now has 19 assists in her career which is No. 3 in the school record books. She's just three assists shy of claiming the school record.
UP NEXT: The Trailblazers will finish out a six game road stretch this weekend taking on Idaho State on Friday, Sept. 3 in Pocatello, Idaho before taking on in-state rival Weber State on Sunday, Sept. 5 in Ogden, Utah. DSU's first home game is set for Sept. 10 against Pacific.
