BYU finishes regular season with 2-1 win over LMU

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — With two goals from Brecken Mozingo, No. 15 BYU women's soccer beat the LMU Lions 2-1 in the regular-season season finale. The Cougars went undefeated in West Coast Conference play (6-0-3), finishing second in the conference, and racked up a 10-2-6 record overall.

“We feel like we have played really well in conference,” said Jennifer Rockwood, BYU head coach. “We wanted to make sure we took care of business tonight, and now we are going to learn and get better as we prepare for the NCAA Tournament, which is the most important thing.”

With her brace against LMU, Mozingo leads the Cougars with 12 goals and 10 assists on the season. The Cougars outshot the Lions 25-4, with 10 shots on frame and nine corner kicks. 

First Half

BYU came out strong, recording the first corner kick and shot of the game within the first five minutes on the pitch. LMU had its first offensive attack in the eighth minute, sending the ball high over the crossbar for a BYU goal kick.

The Cougars continued to keep possession and push the pace of the game with six more shots and two more corners heading into the 17th minute. Three of the first seven shots of the game came from junior midfielder Olivia Wade from outside the 18.

In the 31st minute of the game, a hand ball was called in the LMU box for a BYU penalty kick. Mozingo stepped up and shot the ball into the bottom-right corner of the goal to put the Cougars on the scoreboard. 

BYU’s offensive pressure kept the ball in LMU’s defensive third and earned a free kick from the top of the penalty arc in the 35th minute. Mozingo took a left-footed shot, forcing the Lions goalkeeper Amanda Delgado to make a diving save. 

The Cougars went into halftime with the 1-0 lead. BYU outshot LMU 14-1, seven of which were on frame. The Cougars’ offensive momentum was evident in the five corner kicks to LMU’s zero through the first 45 minutes of play. 

Second Half

Despite some early pressure at the start of the second half from the Cougars, LMU was able to get the equalizer in the 54th minute with a volley off a free kick, bringing the game to 1-1. BYU responded quickly with a run up the spine of the field and a shot by Wade that was just outside the post.

In the 75th minute, LMU’s Ellen Loncar beat the BYU defenders for a breakaway against goalkeeper Savanna Mason, who got the save despite being hit hard during the play. 

BYU answered back in the 79th minute as Mozingo drove the ball up the right-side of the field and found the back of the net with a left-footed shot outside the penalty arc. Mozingo’s second goal allowed the Cougars to regain the lead, 2-1.

BYU’s defense held strong in the final minutes of the match to secure the win.

The Cougars now await their NCAA Tournament seeding, All tournament seeds and opening-round matchups will be announced during the selection show on Monday, Nov. 7 at 4 p.m. EST., on NCAA.com. First-round games are scheduled to take place Nov. 11-13 at 32 different campus sites. The second- and third-round games will occur at eight campus sites, and those rounds will take place Nov. 18 and 20. The four quarterfinal games will take place Nov. 25 and 26 and also be on campus sites. The 2022 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer College Cup is scheduled to take place Dec. 2-5 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina.