McCarthy’s hat-trick, commanding offense shuts out San Diego

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – A dominating BYU offensive performance, including a hat-trick from Rachel McCarthy, led BYU soccer to a 6-0 shutout victory over San Diego Wednesday afternoon in California.

“It was a great win and a real good team effort,” said BYU head coach Jen Rockwood. “I’m really pleased with how we played, and it was a really solid performance all the way around.

Cameron Tucker started the scoring early for the Cougars in the eighth minute, off of an incredible cross from Makayla Colohan that soared from the left sideline, overtop of the defense and right onto Tucker’s outstretched foot. The goal ended a scoring drought for Tucker, since her hat-trick against Utah on Feb. 6. Tucker’s goal was her fourth goal of the season and 22nd of her career.

“We wanted to get Cam going,” Rockwood said. “She’s one of our top forwards, and if we can get her scoring goals, we will be in a much better situation.”

Colohan scored a goal in the 16th minute, giving goals in seven straight games now. The All-American’s goal was the 33rd of her career, making her ninth in all-time BYU scoring, tying her with Michele Vasconcelos, who now plays for Kansas City in the NWSL.

In the 34th minute, Olivia Wade scored her first goal of the season, and first goal since Sept. 21, 2018 against UVU, following some time away from the program with a church mission to Houston, Texas.

“Olivia is continuing to get better with each game, and I know she’s been hungry for the first goal,” Rockwood said. “I’m really excited for her to get that goal today, and if we can get her and Cam a little bit more dangerous, we will be that much better.”

McCarthy snuck in a goal before the half, in the 44th minute, off an assist from Brecken Mozingo, and continued to dominate going into the second half. The Cougars’ four goals in the first half tied USD’s goals for the entire season.

The second half started out slower than the first, but McCarthy quickly came out firing. In the 64th minute, Tucker ran the ball down the right side of the field toward the goal and at the last second, after drawing the goaltender toward her, as well as a second defender, passed it to McCarthy, who put the ball into the open net for a one-touch goal.

McCarthy wasn’t finished yet, scoring again just 1:20 later, in the 65th minute, off an assist from Wade,, completing her hat-trick for the afternoon. The midfielder’s goal was her eighth of the season and the first hat-trick in her career.

“Rachel has been coming off the bench for us, and you kind of don’t want to mess around with that because she’s been so successful coming in,” Rockwood said. “The defense is already a little tired chasing down our attack, and then Rachel is coming in. She’s so strong, fast, skilled, and has become such a great finisher.”

BYU continued to have opportunities to score, with San Diego having 17 saves in comparison to BYU’s five.

BYU outshot the Toreros 27-8 in total shots and 23-5 in shots on goal.

BYU’s defense and goalie Cassidy Smith remained perfect to earn the shutout, and second shutout of the season. Smith now has seven shutouts in her career.

The Cougars are averaging 3.4 goals per game this season.

The Cougars are now 7-3-0 on the season and 4-1-0 in conference play. BYU will return home to South Field on Saturday to take on Gonzaga.

“They’re rolling right now,” Rockwood said about the Bulldogs. “They look good and they’re playing well. They’ve got to be confident coming in, but I sure love the way we are playing right now. We are going to be a handful.”

The game set to kick off at 1 p.m. MDT and will be broadcast on BYUtv, with radio coverage on the BYU Sports Network—BYU Radio 107.9 FM, and audio play-by-play also streaming on the BYU Cougars app and at BYUCougars.com/LiveRadio. Limited fans will be in attendance.