Hatch and Vasconcelos send BYU to third round

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Ashley Hatch and Michele Vasconcelos each scored in BYU's 2-1 win over Oklahoma Thursday afternoon in the second round of the NCAA tournament at Stone Stadium.

"It was a battle," BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. "I thought we played well, scoring in the first half and then getting the second goal. There was a little craziness that happend. They got a goal and we had to gut it out at the end."

BYU vs. Oklahoma Box Score

Postgame Press Conference Quotes

Hatch's header in the 11th minute gave BYU a 1-0 lead. The attack started with Vasconcelos passing to Stephanie Ringwood Ney, who crossed to Hatch just inside the penalty spot. Hatch placed it past Oklahoma keeper Kassidie Stade for the early advantage.

It was Hatch’s 19th goal of the season and first career NCAA tournament goal. Ney was credited with her second assist of the year while Vasconcelos picked up her 13th.

The Cougars held that the 1-0 edge at halftime. They outshot the Sooners 10-3 in the first half.

Vasconcelos scored a goal 20 minutes into the second half to put BYU up 2-0. She extended her scoring streak to seven games with an unassisted shot chipped over Stade. It hit the bottom side of the cross bar and bounced down into the net.

The goal was Vasconcelos’ 16th of the year and her second of this year’s NCAA tournament.

Oklahoma scored in the 82nd minute of the game, as Rachel Ressler scored off an assist from Lizzie Luallin to cut the deficit to one goal.

BYU was able to hold on in the last eight minutes for the win.

The Cougars will take on the winner of Thursday's late matchup of top seed South Carolina and Colorado. BYU's third-round matchup will be on Saturday at 7 p.m. EST at Stone Stadium. A radio broadcast can be heard on the Cougar IMG Network, ESPN 960 AM and BYU Radio (Sirius XM 143), with video broadcast details to follow.