BYU defeats Portland 3-0 in another dominant WCC victory

PORTLAND, Ore. — No. 12 BYU women's soccer defeated the University of Portland 3-0 on Wednesday evening at a rainy Merlo Field.

"It’s always great to come back to my hometown, and we knew this was going to be a big game”, said Jennifer Rockwood, BYU head coach. “Portland’s had a fantastic season so far, especially in the WCC. But, we felt like they hadn’t seen a team with our type of attacking energy, and we’re overwhelming to teams when we do that. We set the tone at the beginning, even though the first goal didn’t come until later.”

All three of the Cougars’ goals would come from BYU reserves. BYU is undefeated against Portland in West Coast Conference play all-time, with 11 total wins.

First half

The Cougars dominated possession in the attacking third for the majority of the first half. Olivia Smith kicked off the Cougars’ offensive efforts with a deep cross in the fourth minute, but Portland’s goalkeeper Bre Norris caught the ball above her head for a save. Shortly following, Mikayla Colohan got off her first shot of the game in the fifth minute and Norris made a diving save.

A shot by Cameron Tucker was sent towards the top-left part of the net, but was saved by Norris in the 12th minute. Tucker would go on to have five shots and two shots on goal, but none would find the back of the net.

BYU had seven shots to Portland’s one in the opening 16 minutes. 

Grace Johnson’s header hit the ground and then jumped over the crossbar in the 22nd minute.

A spark off the bench, Rachel McCarthy scored the first goal of the night, with assists by Brecken Mozingo and Colohan in the 32nd minute. It was McCarthy’s fourth goal of the year. 

Colohan looked to add a second goal to the BYU stat line with a free kick at 20 yards, but barely missed to the left of the goalpost in the 39th minute to keep the score at 1-0.

Second half

Sophomore Bella Folino started in the second half, and sent a skipping ball to the goal box for a marker to boost the lead to 2-0 off a cross from Kendell Petersen in the 54th minute. 

Folino would score another goal three minutes later at the 56:56 mark after an assist from Olivia Wade. Folino’s second goal marked nine goals on the season, and 23 for her BYU career.

“I think we made a statement tonight,” said Wade. “This game proved that goals can come from anybody on our team. That is what makes us super special. We don’t just have two, three or four set players that can score, it really can come from anybody. Even players off the bench.”

Portland had a couple chances to get on the scoreboard late in the second half, with a shot from Sarah Kowack toward the bottom center of the net, but Cassidy Smith snagged the save. Also, the Pilots had a free kick in the 87th minute, but missed wide to the right.

The Cougars will return home for senior night to host No. 16 Pepperdine on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. MDT. Twenty minutes prior to the game, the seniors will be honored on the pitch. The game will be available for streaming on byutv.org and the BYUTv app. It will also be broadcast on the BYU Sports Network/BYU Radio 107.9 FM/BYU Cougars App.