No. 11 Cougars make it three in a row with 2-0 win

BYU vs. Nebraska Box Score

LINCOLN, Neb. – For the third straight game, No. 11 BYU women’s soccer won 2-0. The Cougars shut out Nebraska and behind goals from Hermann Trophy candidate Ashley Hatch and Michele Murphy Vasconcelos added to their three-game win and shutout streak to start the season.

"That was a tough battle tonight," BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. "It’s always hard to come on the road against a great program in a good conference and a great facility. We came out on the good end of things but it was a grind."

BYU (3-0-0) opened up the scoring as Ashley Hatch found the back of the net in the 16th minute. Nadia Gomes beat her defender to the end line and found Hatch in the box. Hatch got a foot to the ball before the keeper could react for a 1-0 lead.

It was Hatch’s second goal of the year and the 26th of her career which is tied for 11th all-time at BYU. The assist also marked the third straight game where Gomes has earned a point either on a goal or an assist. Even in the 16th minute, the goal was the latest BYU had waited to score in a game this season.

"Ashley gave us a nice goal, nice and early," Rockwood said. "Then defensively we just gutted it out."

It took 58 minutes until the Cougars found their second goal of the game. Michele Murphy Vasconcelos took a left-footed shot from just outside the box. It skipped past the keeper at the near post for Vasconcelos’ first goal of the season. Vasconcelos is tied for 17th all-time with 15 career goals.

"Murphy was fantastic tonight," Rockwood said. "I thought she was really a highlight of our game. She helped us keep possession and was very dangerous the entire game."

BYU out shot the Huskers 11-10 and put seven of their shots on goal to Nebraska’s two. The Huskers did earn six corners, but weren’t able to test Rachel Boaz in goal.

BYU freshman Brianna Hatch made her debut against the Cornhuskers coming on in the 79th minute.

The Cougars return home to host in-state rival Utah in the Deseret First Duel on Friday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. on South Field. The game will be broadcast live on BYUtv and the Cougar IMG Sports Network on ESPN 960 AM and BYUCougars.com and the BYU Cougars app.