PROVO, Utah – Scoring five goals in the second half, No. 14 BYU women's soccer, picked up its third straight win of the season, defeating Southern Utah 7-0 in the team's home opener, Friday.

BYU vs. SUU Box Score

“Our goal was to come out strong and make a statement,” BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. “We are coming off a really good weekend and worked a lot on our attack, and got some really good results.”

In the 19th minute, Josie Guinn put BYU (3-0) on the board with a shot into the left side of the net, grabbing her first goal of the season and giving the Cougars a 1-0 lead.

As the first half drew to a close, a corner kick from Ella Ballstaedt set up Ashton Brockbank for a goal in the 44th minute, sending BYU into the locker room with a 2-0 lead. 

The Cougars headed into the second half with 13 shots on goal and five corner kicks, while holding the Thunderbirds (0-2) to zero shots in the first 45 minutes of action.  

Back-to-back goals by Hermann Trophy nominee Elise Flake within 10 minutes of each other gave the Cougars a comfortable 4-0 lead.

The momentum continued in BYU's favor in the 66th minute when Lizzy Braby crossed a shot into the left of the net and brought the score to 5-0. SUU had recorded its first corner kick of the game in the 75th minute, but was unable to convert.

In the final 10 minutes of the game, Ballstaedt found the back of the net in the 84th minute. Four minutes later Brockbank scored her second goal of the night, finishing the game with a convincing 7-0 win over the Thunderbirds. 

The Cougars return to South Field on Friday, Sept. 6, at 7 p.m. MDT to play in-state rival Utah in the Deseret First Duel. Audio broadcasts will be available on BYU Radio (Sirius XM 143) and ESPN 960 AM. The game will also be carried live on BYUtv and online on BYUtv.org.

GAME NOTES

• In the first half, BYU maintained 68 percent of the ball possession
• SUU did not record a shot or corner kick in the first half
• BYU recorded 28 shots and seven corner kicks for the game
• Five of BYU’s seven goals were scored in the second half
• Four players got their first goals of the season: Ashton Brockbank, Josie Guinn, Ella Ballstaedt and Lizzy Braby

PROVO, Utah – The No. 14 BYU women's soccer team hosts Southern Utah on Friday, Aug. 30, at 8 p.m. MDT in the 2019 home opener.

BYU vs. Southern Utah Game Notes

BYU (2-0-0, 0-0 WCC) vs. Southern Utah (0-1-0, 0-0-0 Big Sky)

• Friday, Aug. 30, at 8 p.m. MDT, at South Field
• Video: WCC Network
• Radio: BYU Sports Network/BYU Cougars App/107.9 FM and ESPN 960 AM/ESPN 960 AM App
• Radio Talent: Greg Wrubell (play-by-play) and Avery Walker (analyst)

IN THE RANKINGS. BYU cracked the Top 25 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, earning the No. 14 spot and is the No. 1 team in the West Region Rankings. The last time the Cougars were nationally ranked by United Soccer Coaches was in the 2018 final regular season rankings, claiming the No. 24 spot. In Top Drawer Soccer's poll, BYU moved up to No. 14 as well.

LAST TIME ON THE FIELD. The Cougars rallied late at Mississippi State as Mikayla Colohan scored on a free kick to lift BYU to a 2-1 victory. Elise Flake scored the first goal of the game in the 21st minute, but the Bulldogs were awarded a penalty kick in the 65th minute to even the game at 1-all. The Cougars outshot Mississippi State 20-9.

THE COLOHAN SHOW. Junior midfielder Colohan scored the game-winners in both contests of opening weekend. At Alabama, she scored the lone goal of the match in the ninth minute. Against Mississippi State, her late goal off of a set piece was enough to keep BYU undefeated. The Kaysville, Utah native was named West Coast Conference Player of the Week for her performances on the road.

WCC CO-FAVORITES. The WCC announced BYU and Santa Clara as co-favorites to win the crown in 2019. Both teams garnered five first-place votes for a total of 77 points. In 2018, the Cougars edged the Broncos at South Field to claim the title for the sixth time since joining the conference in 2011.

THE THUNDERBIRDS. Under the direction of third year head coach Fred Thompson, Southern Utah is looking to improve on a 2-15-1 overall record in 2018. The Thunderbirds tied Utah State 0-0 in exhibition play before falling 4-0 to CSUN in the first regular season game of the season.

COUGARS VS. THUNDERBIRDS. BYU leads the series with Southern Utah 2-0. The Cougars' most recent win came in 2009, earning a 3-2 victory at South Field.