(Indianapolis, IN) - The Southern Utah University women’s soccer team opened its Summit League schedule against the IUPUI Jaguars Friday evening. The Thunderbirds dropped a 1-0 decision to IUPUI but proved they could play with the defending conference champion IUPUI.

“I was pleased with how we played in a tough, hard fought typical Summit League match,” stated 10th-year head Brian Stock. “We bounced back after IUPUI’s goal with a couple good looks later in half and in the beginning of the second period but just came up short tonight.”

Southern Utah saw its record fall to 3-5-1 overall and 0-1 in the Summit League while IUPUI improved to 5-6 overall and 1-0 in conference.

Despite outshooting the Jaguars 9-7 in the first half, the Thunderbirds saw the match’s lone goal come towards the end of the first period. IUPUI picked up the goal after a long right cross landed in the left side of the box that was gathered in by a Jaguar player and was kicked past SUU redshirt-sophomore keeper Charly Booth in the 38th minute.

Southern Utah nearly evened things up in the early minutes of the second half as a scramble in front of the Jaguar goal resulted in a Thunderbird shot getting cleared off the line that many SUU players thought crossed the goal line but was not allowed. The Thunderbirds put together a couple offensive threats in the second half but had shots by Riley Bassett, Missy Lazcano and Michelle Judd miss on goal.

IUPUI keeper Giselle Guzman made five saves in the first half to keep SUU off the board. Booth finished with five saves for the Thunderbirds.

Southern Utah continues Summit League play with a matchup against Western Illinois at 11:00AM Mountain Time on Sunday.