PROVO, Utah — No. 25 BYU defeated in-state foe Utah 2-1 with a game-winner by Olivia Wade in the final minute of the match on South Field Saturday evening for its first win in two weeks. All three goals were scored within the last 12 minutes of the match.

The Cougars sought revenge as last season the rivalry matchup ended in a 0-0 tie after two scoreless overtime periods.

“It was a huge win for our team,” said Wade. “Obviously, we have been having some struggles early in the season, but we knew we had it in us. We put everything out on the field and everybody stepped up big and did their job today. I am so proud of this group.”

BYU’s freshman Allie Fryer got her first collegiate start in tonight's face-off. To kick things off for BYU’s offense, midfielder Wade came out aggressive, getting two shots off within the first four minutes of the match. The Utes began to equalize possession on their end of the pitch and both teams would get three shots off in the first 20 minutes of the game.

BYU had four additional shots in the next 10 minutes without any success, Brecken Mozingo with three of them. Utah’s next shot wouldn’t be until the 37th minute.

At the half, the game was scoreless. A defensive first half left BYU’s goalkeeper Savanna Mason with two saves while Utah’s goalkeeper Evie Vitali had four.

The Cougars reentered the game in the second half with similar aggression as the first. Olivia Smith sent a ball wide over the net in the 46th minute. Fryer also looked for the back of the net in the 51st minute, but the ball was off target. BYU nearly quadrupled the amount of Utah’s shots with 15 to its four in the 53rd minute.

Mozingo looked to extend her five-game goal streak with four shots-on-goal in the second half. She opened with a shot in the 60th minute, followed by a free kick one minute later that nearly missed, rolling past the right side of the net. Utah’s Vitali wouldn’t allow a goal from Mozingo after two more attempts. With an aggressive forward attack by the Cougars, the sophomore Utah keeper had a career-high night with seven total saves.

BYU finally capitalized off their offensive pressure in the second half when Jamie Shepherd and Mozingo assisted Wade in the first goal of the match at the 78 minute mark. Wade sent the ball into the bottom-right of the net, with a powder toss celebration from the BYU student section to celebrate.

BYU held Utah to just three shots in the second half, with a chance to equalize in the 87th minute by Kelly Bullock that did not fall between the posts. However, the Utes made it happen in the 89th minute, with a goal by Ryan Cull. The Cougars have had three opponents equalize the score late in the second half this season (70th minute versus Colorado, 83rd minute versus Arkansas and 83rd minute at Utah State).

With another tie in sight for BYU, Wade was able to get a game in the win column with a jumping goal in the final minute of the game. Mozingo sent the ball into the box from a corner kick and Wade was able to send the ball into the net for her first multi-goal game of the season.

“When that ball went in it was such a confidence-booster for us,” said Wade. “Earlier when Utah tied up the game it was gut-wrenching, but I don’t think we skipped a beat. We knew we could find the back of the net again.”

BYU will have two weeks off before traveling to California for its first West Coast Conference matchup against Saint Mary’s on Saturday, October 1. The game will be streaming live on the WCC Network, with Greg Wrubell on the call on BYUradio.org and the BYU Radio app as well.

PROVO, Utah — The Cougars head back to South Field to play their long-time rival, the Utah Utes as the last non-conference game of the 2022 season on Saturday night.

GAME NOTES

Saturday’s matchup has been scheduled for 7 p.m. MDT. The game will be carried live on BYURadio.org/BYU Radio app/BYU Radio 107.9 FM. The game will also be streamed on BYUtv and the BYUtv App. 

LAST TIME ON THE FIELD. BYU last played up-state rival Utah State in Logan, Utah on Thursday afternoon. A goal by Brecken Mozingo in the 19th minute put the Cougars in the lead 1-0 until the Aggies equalized off a long ball sent into the box in the 83rd minute of the match. Despite BYU’s best efforts in finding the net in the last few minutes, the game ended in a 1-1 draw on Chuck and Gloria Bell soccer field. 

BYU NOTES (3-2-3, 0-0-0)

• BYU is currently ranked No. 25 nationally under head coach Jennifer Rockwood
• After six non-conference games, BYU is now 3-2-3 on the season
• Scoring in five-consecutive games, Mozingo leads the Cougars in goals (6) and points (16)
• Mozingo and Olivia Smith lead the team in assists with four apiece
• The Cougars changed up formation for their game against Utah State, playing a 4-3-3 instead of a 4-4-2 on the pitch

Head Coach - Jennifer Rockwood

• Record at BYU: 427-125-50
• 28th season as head coach of BYU
• Seventh in NCAA Division I in active career-winning percentage (.754)  

UTAH NOTES (4-1-2, 0-0-0)

• Utah is currently ranked No. 8 in the Pac-12 Conference
• The Utes are closing out non-conference play with their game against BYU on Saturday
• Utah last played Utah State on Sunday, Sept. 11, winning 1-0 
• Taliana Kaufusi leads the team with four goals, eight points and 17 shots

Head Coach - Hideki Nakada 

• Record at Utah: 10-11-6
• 2nd season as head coach of Utah
• Before coaching at Utah, Nakada coached at Stanford. During his seven seasons there, his team compiled a remarkable 132-15-10 overall record, with a dominating 66-6-4 mark in the Conference of Champions that included four College Cup appearances.

COUGARS VS. UTES. The Cougars and the Utes have played 35 times previously, with BYU leading the series 24-8-3. The last time the two teams met was Sept. 9, 2021, when the Cougars and the Utes tied 1-1 on Ute Field in Salt Lake City.  

BROADCAST INFORMATION

• Saturday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m. MDT on South Field
• Radio: BYURadio.org/BYU Radio App/BYU Radio 107.9 FM
• Radio play-by-play: Jason Shepherd
• BYUtv and BYUtv App
• TV Talent: Jarom Jordan and Carla Swensen