Cougs open the 2023 season with an offensive battle on South Field

PROVO, Utah — The Cougars took the field for the first time of the 2023 season Saturday night for the annual Blue vs White game. South Field saw approximately 1,250 fans at the preseason scrimmage as the white team took the win over blue, 4-3.

“It was a really fun night, I am super pleased,” said head coach Jennifer Rockwood. “I think it was great to get our starting group together and play as a unit. We were able to do that in the first period and somewhat in the third period. They have been playing a lot this summer all mixed up. So, to get our starting group together was super important.”  

Sophomore Allie Fryer led the Cougars in goals with a brace on the night, both coming in the first period. Tylie Pratt, Bella Folino, Brecken Mozingo, Erin Bailey and Ellie Ford all recorded goals of their own as well. Kendell Petersen and Ellie Walbruch led the Cougars in assists, each tallying two on the night. 

The White team outshot Blue 24-17, with 13 shots on target. Both teams’ goalkeepers recorded nine saves.

First Period

The blue team struck first as Fryer found the back of the net in the 10th minute from the left side of the pitch, assisted by Petersen. In the 25th minute, Petersen again assisted a Fryer goal as the blue team increased their lead to 2-0.  

Blue outshot the white team 9-1 in the first period, forcing goalkeeper Lynette Hernaez to make four saves for the White team.

Second Period

Freshman Tylie Pratt scored for the first time on South Field in the 43rd minute of play to put the white team on the board. Both Rachel McCarthy and Walbruch recorded assists for Pratt’s right-footed goal. 

The white team tied the game at 2-2 as senior Bella Folino netted the ball in the 51st minute of play. Brecken Mozingo kept the momentum going for the white team as she scored in the last minute of the period on a Folino assist. 

The white team outshot blue 15-3 in the period with nine shots on goal. Goalkeeper Savanna Mason recorded six saves within the 30-minute period.  

Third Period

Erin Bailey scored for white team with a right-footed shot into the bottom right corner of the net in the 67th minute. The sophomore forward increased the white team’s lead to 4-2. as she found the bottom right corner of the net in the 67^th minute. 

Freshman Ellie Ford brought the deficit back to one for the blue team as she scored from the right side of the pitch in the 74th minute of play. Despite a hard-fought battle by the blue team in the final third, the White team held the lead for the remainder of the game, winning 4-3.  

The Cougars will next take the field in New Brunswick, New Jersey as they take on Rutgers on Thursday, Aug. 10 at 7 PM EDT for their first of two preseason exhibition games.