(St. George - Nov. 2, 2025) – Redshirt sophomore forward Lataya Brost netted a hat trick to lead Utah Tech women's soccer past Southern Utah, 8-1, on Sunday night at Greater Zion Stadium. UT scored a Division I era-record eight goals to earn a season series sweep in the Battle of the Ax and celebrate seven departing Trailblazers on senior night. 

Senior forward Lacy Fox started the party with her fifth goal of the season in the fourth minute, giving Utah Tech (8-7-4, 4-4-2 WAC) a 1-0 lead. Fox dispossessed a Thunderbird near midfield and dribbled down the left side into the box and past three T-Birds before smashing a right-footer into the bottom right corner.

Southern Utah (3-13-2, 2-7-1 WAC) responded in the 10th minute, tying the match at 1-1. SUU redshirt senior forward Avery Kyle launched a long-distance shot into the right upper 90 off an assist by redshirt senior forward Whitney Gardner. 

Junior forward Ella Rusick reclaimed the lead, giving UT a 2-1 advantage in the 30th minute. Off a UT corner kick, a T-Bird headed down the cross, and Rusick struck a right-footer into the back of the net from inside the penalty area. The referee initially called off the goal for a supposed off-ball foul, but after video review, the goal was allowed. 

In the 34th minute, senior midfielder Kyah Le found paydirt for the Trailblazers. Sophomore midfielder Bre Koscielski took a throughball in stride and dribbled to the left post before dishing a low cross to Le, who scored with a left-footer. 

Brost notched her first goal of the night in the 38th minute, burying a left-footed shot from a cross into the box by Rusick to make it 4-1 at the break. Senior forward Kearney Hoggan earned a second assist by setting up Rusick. 

Freshman forward Jocelyn Wright beat SUU redshirt-senior goalkeeper Jazmyn Brass at the near post with a left-footed blast for UT's fifth goal in the 52nd minute. Freshman defender Abby Olsen assisted on the goal. Wright leads Utah Tech with six goals this season.

Brost logged a brace in the 54th minute, making it 6-1 Trailblazers. She curled in a right-footed shot over the T-Bird GK from the right side of the box off an assist by Fox.

In the 60th minute, sophomore forward Lexi Nelson scored her first career goal to increase the UT lead to 7-1. On a UT corner kick, Brost sent a cross toward the far post, and Nelson flew into the penalty area, heading the ball past the goal line. 

Brost tallied the 16th hat trick in program history, third of the DI era, in the 61st minute. Shortly after SUU's kickoff, freshman forward Brooke Hendricks intercepted a T-Bird pass, playing the ball forward to Brost. She hit a right-footer into the top right corner of the net from the top of the box for her third goal of the match and fifth goal of the season. 

It was Brost's first career hat trick and second career multi-goal match. With her assist, Brost recorded the most points in a single game in the DI era with seven, tying for third all-time.

The Trailblazers set DI era records with 28 shots and 17 shots on goal, compared to SUU's 16 shots and eight on goal. Frey tallied seven saves, while Brass and SUU junior goalkeeper Esme Barnes combined for nine stops. 

With the win, Utah Tech remained undefeated against rival SUU all-time with a 5-0-2 record. UT also played spoiler to the Thunderbirds by denying them the last spot in the WAC Tournament with the win. 

The Trailblazers next head to Orem, Utah, for the 2025 WAC Women's Soccer Tournament. No. 3-seed Utah Tech opens the tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 5, against No. 2 California Baptist in the semifinal round. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at UCCU Stadium.

NOTABLE NUMBERS
DI Era Records:
Single-game goals (8), tied fifth all-time
Single-game shots (28)
Single-game shots on goal (17)
Single-game points (23), tied fourth all-time
Single-game individual points (7, Lataya Brost), tied third all-time
Single-game assists (7), tied second all-time
Single-season assists (35), tied fourth all-time
Single-season shots (277), ninth all-time
Single-season shots on goal (131)
Single-season points (107), sixth all-time

Other:
16th hat trick in program history (Lataya Brost)
Remained undefeated all-time against Southern Utah, 5-0-2