Two goals from Vasconcelos leads No. 7 BYU over SMU

PROVO, Utah – In a dominant offensive performance, senior Michele Vasconcelos scored twice to help No. 7 BYU to a 4-0 shutout against SMU on Thursday night at South Field.

“It was a great night and a real complete performance by all of our team,” BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. “I was really proud of the way the girls in our starting group came out and played strong and we had tremendous play off the bench that kept the momentum going."

BYU vs. SMU Box Score

For the Cougars (5-1), it was their second shutout in a row. For the Mustangs (3-2), it was the first time they've been shut out this season. 

With both goals coming in the second half, Vasconcelos recorded her fourth game with multiple goals, tying her for sixth all-time in program history in multiple-goal performances. Teammate Ashley Hatch had two assists on the night, tying Vasconcelos for 14th on the all-time assists list with 18.

"Michele has done so much for us." Rockwood said. "She already has more goals at this point in the season than she did all of last year, so she is on a great roll right now." 

Senior Paige Hunt Barker scored her first goal of the season in the 30th minute to help BYU establish an early 1-0 lead. Vasconcelos started the play with a cross to Nadia Gomes, whose shot attempt inside the box was blocked by the SMU defense. Hunt Barker collected the rebound and blasted it into the net to give BYU the advantage.

In the 47th minute, Vasconcelos netted the Cougars' second score with her 21st career goal, moving her up to the 14th spot on the all-time BYU scoring list. The goal came after junior Bizzy Phillips Bowen found Hatch open along the side and Hatch crossed the ball to find Vasconcelos, who knocked it in from the penalty spot to the right of the keeper.

Two minutes later, Hatch struck another crossing pass to Elena Medeiros at the top of the box and Medeiros drove the ball far post to give BYU a 3-0 lead.

The Mustangs threatened to score in the 61st minute with a close shot on goal, but goalkeeper Hannah Clark made a diving save to preserve the shutout. 

In the 71st minute, Vasconcelos added her second goal for the final BYU score of the night. Vasconcelos created an open look from the right side and pushed the ball past the charging keeper for the score. Freshman Brynlee Welch was credited with the assist on the play, the first of her BYU career as the Cougars sealed the 4-0 win.

BYU hits the road to face No. 18 Ohio State on Monday at 7 p.m. EDT at Jesse Owens Stadium. The game can be heard live on The Cougar IMG Sports Network, BYU Radio on Sirius XM 143 and locally on ESPN 960 AM Radio.