Team effort gives BYU first win of season

CORVALLIS, Ore. — A team effort led the BYU women’s soccer team to a 3-0 victory for its first win of the season. Elise Flake, Avery Walker and Madie Lyons Mathews each found the back of the net in the win.

“We worked really hard for this one and I think we felt the momentum coming,” BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. “I felt the girls were really prepared today and it showed as we got off to a great start from the whistle.”

The Cougars (1-3-3) put the game away in the first half, scoring all three goals in the first 38 minutes. Against Oregon State (3-2-2), the Cougars matched the number of goals they had previously scored in the last six games combined.

In the third minute, all three forwards connected to produce BYU's first goal of the game. Nadia Gomes received a pass in the middle of the attacking third from Walker and found Flake making a run towards goal. Flake placed her shot just inside the far-post for her first goal of the season.

Walker scored her second goal of the season in the 24th minute when she took on multiple defenders to set herself up for a shot outside the goal box, sliding the ball past the goalkeeper.

Lyons Mathews took the ball straight to goal in the 38th minute, creating her own space for a shot on goal. Mathews scored just outside the eighteen-yard box, finding the bottom left corner for her first goal of the season.

On the night, the Cougars tallied 17 shots compared to the Beavers’ eight. Senior goalkeeper Hannah Clark earned her second shutout of the season with three saves.

The Cougars continue on the road at Arizona on Friday, Sept. 15, at 8 p.m. MDT. The game will be televised live on the Pac-12 Network. Radio broadcasts can be heard on BYU Radio (Sirius XM 143) and ESPN 960 AM.