Vasconcelos scores early, Braby scores late in 2-1 BYU win

SAN DIEGO – Michele Vasconcelos and Lizzy Braby scored a goal each as BYU beat San Diego 2-1 Friday night at Torero Stadium.

"I thought we came out sharply at the beginning," BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. "And then I've talked all year about players coming in and stepping up when we need them, and Lizzy did that tonight."

The result gave Rockwood her 350th career win in the 22 years the Cougars have had an NCAA program.

BYU improved to 13-2-1 (4-1-1 West Coast Conference) while San Diego fell to 8-7-1 (3-3-0). The Cougars dealt the Toreros their first home loss of the season, as they came into the game 6-0-1 on their home turf.

BYU at San Diego Box Score

Visiting BYU opened up the scoring in the 10th minute of the game. Bizzy Phillips Bowen took away a San Diego pass and quickly passed to Madie Lyons. Lyons streaked toward the goal and found Vasconcelos inside the right half of the 18-yard box who hammered home a shot to put the Cougars up 1-0.

The game's first score gave Vasconcelos her 10th goal of the season and Lyons her fourth assist.

That was the only strike of the first half of play, as BYU took its 1-0 lead into the break.

A late clincher came off the left foot of freshman Lizzy Braby in the 82nd minute. Vasconcelos passed to Braby, who collected the ball inside the right side of the box, made a quick turn and fired the shot to the far, upper shelf for the goal. 

It was Braby's first career goal, and the second goal scored by a freshman this season (Elise Flake against Denver) for the Cougars. Vasconcelos and Alyssa Jefferson were credited with assists.

The Toreros got on the board late, as Julia Sherwood capitalized on a ball that was deflected and dished to her. She booted it from close to the penalty spot past BYU keeper Hannah Clark to cut the Cougars' lead to 2-1 in the 89th minute.

BYU was able to hold out for the rest of regulation to claim the win.

The Cougars next play at Saint Mary's on Thursday, Oct. 27, at 3:30 p.m. PDT. Audio of that game will be streamed on the Cougar IMG Network, BYU Radio (Sirius XM 143) and ESPN 960 AM. Video will be streamed at TheW.tv.