Late Rally Helps BYU's Women's Soccer Defeat San Diego, 4-1

PROVO -- Three goals in a two-minute span late in the second half propelled the 18th-ranked BYU Women's Soccer team to a victory over the 24th-ranked Toreros of San Diego.

Midway through the first half, a penalty kick by freshman sensation Aleisha Cramer bounced off the post but junior midfielder Sarah Higham beat the San Diego goalie on the rebound to score the first goal of the game. San Diego knotted the score before halftime when Val Strocco's shot snuck between BYU goalie Kylee Dickson's legs.

"We've played so well, but haven't had any luck so far," said Cougar coach Jennifer Rockwood. "We've struggled to put the ball in the net."

BYU was unable to put the ball in the goal for much of the second half despite having many opportunities. A left-footed blast from 20 yards out by senior defender Staci Reynolds put the Cougars on top for good with less than 10 minutes to play in the game. Michelle Peterson scored her eighth goal of the season just 27 seconds later. Sara Reading headed in Kim Lowe's cross for the Cougars third goal of the second half.

"I'm pleased the girls didn't fold under the pressure," Rockwood said. "There was a lot riding on this game. We needed to prove we could take them out. I'm proud of the composure the girls showed tonight."

The Cougars improve their season record to 5-2 while the Toreros suffered their first loss of the year. BYU travels to Gainesville to take on the University of Florida on Monday, Sept. 18. They then go to Wisconsin for a two game set against Marquette, Sept. 22 and Wisconsin--Milwaukee, Sept. 23.

- agate -

BYU-4 San Diego-1

Scoring BYU Sarah Higham, 23:31, (unassisted)

USD Val Strocco, 36:40, (unassisted)

BYU Staci Reynolds, 83:07, (Kim Lowe, assist)

BYU Michelle Peterson, 83:34, (unassisted)

BYU Sara Reading, 84:57, (Aleisha Cramer, assist)

Soccer Box Score (Final)
                            The Automated ScoreBook
 University San Diego (6-1-0  0-0-0) vs.            Goals by Period       1  2  Tot
 Brigham Young (5-2-0  0-0-0)                       ------------------------- -----
 Date: Sep 15, 2000  Attendance: 1552               University San Diego  1  0 -  1
 Weather: 95 sunny sog, 78 by eog                   Brigham Young.......  1  3 -  4
 University San Diego                            Brigham Young
 Pos. ## Player                Sh SOG  G  A      Pos. ## Player                Sh SOG  G  A
 ------------------------------------------      ------------------- ----------------------
      00 DUREN, Leila........   -   -  -  -           2  GRAHAM, Athelia.....   -   -  -  -
      2  OBEJI, Alexis.......   -   -  -  -           4  LEWIS, Natalyn......   6   2  -  -
      5  GORDON, Tricia......   -   -  -  -           7  WEIDNER, Aurelin....   -   -  -  -
      7  MULLEN, Brenna......   -   -  -  -           10 HOFHEINS, Farrah....   1   -  -  -
      9  CURRIE, Claire......   -   -  -  -           11 HIGHAM, Sarah.......   4   1  1  -
      10 ROMERO, Cristina....   -   -  -  -           12 READING, Sara.......   7   2  1  -
      11 ALLEN, Katie........   -   -  -  -           13 PETERSON, Michelle..   4   2  1  -
      13 STROCCO, Val........   1   1  1  -           15 LOWE, Kim...........   4   2  -  2
      14 BARNIER, Stephanie..   2   2  -  -           17 CRAMER, Aleisha.....   5   2  -  1
      18 LOVELAND, Casey.....   -   -  -  -           21 REYNOLDS, Staci.....   4   2  1  -
      20 YOUNG, Marya........   -   -  -  -           29 DICKSON, Kylee......   -   -  -  -
      ---------- Substitutes ----------               ---------- Substitutes  ---------
      4  JACOBSEN, Ashley....   -   -  -  -           00 WALDRON, Jennifer...   -   -  -  -
      6  SPENCE, Heather.....   -   -  -  -           3  CHRISTIANSON, Jennie   1   1  -  -
      17 SPENCER, Suan.......   -   -  -  -           8  WERTS, Donna........   -   -  -  -
      19 ROBERTSON, Hayley...   -   -  -  -           14 HOECHERL, Annie.....   -   -  -  -
                                                      18 WILLARDSON, Jeni....   -   -  -  -
         Totals..............   3   3  1  0
                                                         Totals..............  36  14  4  3
 University San Diego                            Brigham Young
 ## Player                 MIN  GA Saves         ## Player                 MIN  GA Saves
 ---------------------------------------         --------------------- -----------------
 00 DUREN, Leila........  90:00  4    10         29 DICKSON, Kylee......  45:00  1     1
                                                 00 WALDRON, Jennifer...  45:00  0     1
 Shots by Period       1  2  Tot                 Saves by Period       1  2  Tot
 -------------------------------                 ------------------------ ------
 University San Diego  2  1 -  3                 University San Diego  5  5 - 10
 Brigham Young....... 19 17 - 36                 Brigham Young.......  1  1 -  2
 Corner Kicks          1  2  Tot                 Fouls                 1  2  Tot
 -------------------------------                 ------------------------ ------
 University San Diego  0  0 -  0                 University San Diego  3  4 -  7
 Brigham Young.......  6  4 - 10                 Brigham Young.......  4  3 -  7
 SCORING SUMMARY:
 GOAL   Time Team     ## Goal Scorer              Assists
 ----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------
  1.   23:31 BYU      11 HIGHAM, Sarah (2)        Unassisted
  2.   36:40 USD      13 STROCCO, Val             Unassisted
  3.   83:07 BYU      21 REYNOLDS, Staci (1)      15 LOWE, Kim
  4.   83:34 BYU      13 PETERSON, Michelle (8)   Unassisted
  5.   84:57 BYU      12 READING, Sara (4)        17 CRAMER, Aleisha/15 LOWE, Kim
 CAUTIONS AND EJECTIONS:
 YC-USD #20 (78:10)
 Officials: Referee: Chris Strikland; Asst. Referee: Randy Plugar; Bill Davis;
 Alt. Official: Jeff Young; Timekeeper: Tiffany Winn; Scorer: Kathy Jensen;
 Offsides: University San Diego 1, Brigham Young 3.