The BYU women’s soccer team defeated the Haiti women’s national team 5-0 in an international friendly on Friday night at South Field.

BYU scored three of its five goals in the first half while keeping Haiti scoreless.

"I couldn't be more pleased," BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. "I've been very pleased with the way we've been training the last week and I'm really pleased with the way we came out. We wanted to come out with a lot of energy and see how quickly we can score goals. I thought our transition play was solid and we have a lot of great dangerous attacking players." 

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Cloee Colohan scored two goals, one of which gave the Cougars their first goal of the game in the 8th minute when Colette Jepson Smith assisted on a kick in front of the post and a soft touch by Colohan put it in. Colohan’s second goal, BYU’s fourth overall, came in the second half on a free kick that bounced off both posts and the crossbar and went in. 

Rachel Manning headed in a goal five minutes later on an assist that came from Jepson Smith and Jaiden Thornock.

The last goal made before the half came from Ashley Hatch in the 39th minute as she was running side by side against Haiti’s Shanna Hudson and struck it into the goal.

Haiti’s best opportunity to score came in the first half in the 21st and 43rd minute when multiple shots bounced off the top crossbar.

With nine minutes remaining in the game, Marissa Nimmer scored the fifth goal on a rainbow kick too high for Haiti’s goalkeeper, Geralda Saintilus, to reach.

The Cougars played efficiently on both ends in a physical battle, finishing the game with a total of 26 shots to Haiti’s 13.

"There are always things we can improve on, but for our first game out here with this new team, I was really pleased," Rockwood said. "It was a great opportunity to meet (the Haitian players) and we respect what they do and they had to come a long way to play us. It was a great warmup game for us as we prepare to play (Cal State Fullerton)." 

Over 1,900 fans were in attendance for the only exhibition game of the season.

BYU will host Cal State Fullerton on Friday at 7 p.m. at South Field in the Cougars regular season home opener. The game will be broadcast live on BYUtv. 

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The No. 6 nationally ranked BYU women’s soccer team will face off against Haiti in a season opening international friendly this Friday at South Field. The game will kickoff at 7 p.m.,and will be televised live on BYUtv and BYUtv International.

This will be the first game since the Cougars lost in the 2012 Elite Eight to North Carolina. Last season, BYU was 20-2-2 and went 7-0-1 in the West Coast Conference recording its first-ever league regular season title since joining the WCC. In 2012 the team compiled a 12-1-2 record when playing on its home field.

Entering the 2013 campaign, the Cougars were picked to finish third in the WCC behind Santa Clara and Portland. Chloe Colohan, Rachel Manning, Michele Murphy and Erica Owens were all selected to the 2013 Preseason All-WCC Team.

The Haiti women’s national team has been training in Indiana over the past summer and spring. They have faced several college teams and the NWSL’s Seattle Reign in exhibitions while training. The Haitians are looking forward to qualifying for the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup next summer, as well as qualifying for the next Women’s World Cup to be hosted in Canada. 

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