Cougars Celebrate 2010-11 Deseret First Duel Victory

PROVO, Utah -- For third time in its four-year history, BYU Athletics captured the Deseret First Duel over the University of Utah. The Cougars claimed the 2010-11 title by a 35-23 margin.

Clinton R. Gurney, president and chief executive officer at Deseret First Credit Union, presented the winning plaque to the BYU Athletic Department Tuesday in a celebration at BYU’s Miller Park.

“Deseret First Credit Union has an excellent, long standing relationship with BYU Athletics through its sponsorship of our teams and the Deseret First Duel,” said BYU director of athletics Tom Holmoe. “Winning the Deseret First Duel over Utah is important to all Cougars. We enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of the teams that helped us secure the 2010-11 title.”

The Duel began in 2007 when BYU and Utah partnered with Deseret First Credit Union to create the Deseret First Duel, a celebration of one of the nation’s oldest and most spirited college rivalries. BYU won the inaugural title in 2007-08 and also won consecutive championships in 2009-10 and 2010-11. Utah captured the trophy in 2008-09.

The rivalry series includes competition in the 12 sports in which the two universities compete head-to-head during regular-season play and uses a system that awards points to the winner of each competition. A team trophy is awarded to the individual winner of each sport. Points won by the individual sports count toward each school's overall total.

BYU clinched the Deseret First Duel on March 18 when baseball defeated Utah 10-8 in Salt Lake City. The Cougars also got points from soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s swimming, men’s tennis and softball, for a total of 35.

The BYU vs. Utah rivalry is one of the oldest and strongest in the country. In November 2005, the Wall Street Journal rated the rivalry the fourth best in college athletics. Thanks to a partnership with Deseret First Credit Union, the rivalry has an official name and a traveling trophy to signify yearly supremacy.

The Deseret First Dual will begin its fifth season on Tuesday, August 23, 2011, as BYU and Utah square off in soccer at South Field in Provo.

2010-11 BYU DESERET FIRST DUEL CHAMPIONS

Women’s Soccer

The women’s soccer team shut down the Utes 2-1 on Utah’s home field on Oct. 30 to tie the season Deseret First Duel score at 6-6. Midfielder Jessica Ringwood put the ball in the net for the game-winning goal in the 69th minute. This victory was the team’s third since the Duel began. The win continued Cougar soccer’s season of success, which culminated in winning the MWC Championships and an NCAA College Cup appearance.

Men’s and Women’s Swimming

For the fourth year in a row, BYU’s women’s swimming team defeated the Utes (161-139) to go undefeated in Duel history. The men recorded its third win since 2008 with a 156-143 victory. Rachel Grant recorded 1:51.09 in 200 freestyle and 2:03.68 in 200 IM. On the men’s side, Jake Taylor recorded 1:50.98 in 200 backstroke and 1:52.89 in 200 IM.

Men’s Basketball

The men’s basketball rivalry, highlighted by Jimmer Fredette’s now-famous half-court three-pointer right before halftime, ended in favor of the Cougars with a 104-79 victory on Jan. 11 in Salt Lake City, and a 72-59 win on Feb. 12 in Provo. Fredette netted 70 points in the series aided by Jackson Emery’s eight steals and seven assists. The team went on to win the regular-season MWC Championships and advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, recording its highest national ranking since 1988 at No. 3.

Women’s Basketball

Sweeping the Utes en route to a 15-1 conference record, women’s basketball secured the Duel trophy for BYU with a 68-50 win at home, and 61-58 win on the road. Coriann Fraughton led the Cougars with 20 points and eight rebounds in the final game, holding off the Utes for the victory. The team won the regular-season MWC title and received a bid to the WNIT.

Men’s Tennis

The men’s tennis team capped off another successful season by dealing the Utes a hard 6-1 loss. Freshman Patrick Kawka scored the winning point with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory against Utah’s Matt Cowley at position No. 4. Kawka also secured the doubles point with teammate Evan Urbina, defeating Cowley and Garrett LaBarre 8-3. In addition to claiming the MWC tournament title, the team clinched the MWC regular season title and made an appearance at the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row.

Softball

Consecutive wins in a May 14 doubleheader against Utah gave the BYU softball team the Deseret Duel trophy and pushed BYU’s overall score to 35. Game one ended 3-0 for the Cougars, with strong defensive play keeping the Utes scoreless. In game two, Jessica Fitu’s two hits and four RBI led BYU to a runaway 12-1, five-inning victory. Pitcher Paige Affleck recorded an MWC-best 24 wins with the BYU victories. The wins clinched the team’s third-straight MWC regular season title, sending the Cougars to the NCAA Regionals.