Comeback Lifts BYU Over UNLV 3-2

PROVO -- Facing a two-goal deficit at the half, the BYU women's soccer team scored three goals in the second half to defeat UNLV 3-2 and extend their winning streak to eight games. BYU remains undefeated in conference play and improves to 11-5, 4-0 while the Runnin' Rebels drop to 10-5-1, 2-2.

UNLV got off to a quick lead with a header goal by freshman Nickie Olson off a cross from the right side from sophomore Jessika Vasquez. Four minutes later senior captain Cristyn Enea received a deflection six yards in front of the BYU goal for a point blank score.

The Rebels took a 2-0 into the half despite being out shot by the Cougars 14-4.

Senior forward Jeni Viernes led a furious comeback in the second half with a goal less than a minute ticked off the clock. Fifteen minutes later, Viernes scored a double-header goal, her second of the game, to tie it at 2-2. Junior Jennifer Fielding crossed the ball to freshman Brooke Bowman, who headed the ball to Viernes' head, for the score.

"Jeni Viernes played an amazing game--perhaps the best game of her career," head coach Jennifer Rockwood said.

Bowman scored the game-winning goal, her second in the last week, with a sliding-kick from junior Lydia Ojuka to bring the crowd to their feet. Bowman was also credited with two assists on the night.

"Brooke also played the best game of her young career," Rockwood said. "Tonight was a test of our character and we believed that we could score three goals in the second half with some adjustments."

BYU out shot UNLV 33-8 in the physical game that saw a total of 29 fouls committed by both teams.

Up next, the Cougars will host San Diego State on Saturday at Southfield. The game will be broadcast on KBYU-TV with kick-off set for 7 p.m.

Soccer Box Score (Final)
                            The Automated ScoreBook
                 UNLV vs Brigham Young (Oct 24, 2002 at Provo)
 UNLV (10-5-1, 2-2-0) vs.                           Goals by Period       1  2  Tot
 Brigham Young (11-5-0, 4-0-0)                      -------------------------------
 Date: Oct 24, 2002  Attendance: 659                UNLV................  2  0 -  2
 Weather: cool 50's                                 Brigham Young.......  0  3 -  3
 UNLV                                            Brigham Young
 Pos. ## Player                Sh SOG  G  A      Pos. ## Player                Sh SOG  G  A
 ------------------------------------------      ------------------------------------------
 GK   00 HUFF, Jenna.........   -   -  -  -      GK   0  SMITH, Ashley.......   -   -  -  -
 F    2  PACKER, Cosette.....   1   1  -  -      MF   8  BIGELOW, Terra......   -   -  -  -
 D    4  SCHUMAKER, Codi.....   -   -  -  -      D/MF 10 OLMSTEAD, Farrah....   -   -  -  -
 F/M  9  MAGLIULO, Annii.....   1   1  -  -      D    13 HOECHERL, Annie.....   -   -  -  -
 M    14 ENEA, Cristyn.......   3   3  1  -      F    14 FIELDING, Jennifer..   1   -  -  1
 D/M  15 LEE, Tania..........   -   -  -  -      MF/D 15 BOWMAN, Brooke......   6   2  1  2
 M    17 COWLES, Michelle....   1   -  -  -      MF/D 16 LUI, Charlene.......   1   -  -  -
 M    18 VASQUEZ, Jessika....   -   -  -  1      MF/D 17 CRAMER ROSE, Aleisha   3   1  -  1
 F/M  19 OLSON, Nickie.......   1   1  1  -      F    18 VIERNES, Jeni.......  13   3  2  -
 D/M  20 EGERTSON, Erin......   -   -  -  -      D    19 HOLMAN, Britney.....   -   -  -  -
 D    22 FREDRICKSON, Shannon   -   -  -  -      MF/D 20 OJUKA, Lydia........   1   1  -  1
      ---------- Substitutes ----------               ---------- Substitutes ----------
      3  BASCONES, Blynnda...   -   -  -  -           2  THULIN, Brooke......   2   -  -  -
      8  RUIZ, Jenny.........   -   -  -  -           3  DAVIS, Kimmie.......   1   1  -  -
      10 CRAMMER, Lora.......   -   -  -  -           9  CAMPBELL, Krissa....   2   1  -  -
      11 WRIGHT, Melicia.....   -   -  -  -           11 RENDICH, Jamie......   3   2  -  -
      12 JANKE, Kelly........   1   1  -  -
                                                         Totals..............  33  11  3  5
         Totals..............   8   7  2  1
 UNLV                                            Brigham Young
 ## Player                 MIN  GA Saves         ## Player                 MIN  GA Saves
 ---------------------------------------         ---------------------------------------
 00 HUFF, Jenna.........  90:00  3     7         0  SMITH, Ashley.......  90:00  2     5
 TM TM..................   0:00  0     1
 Shots by Period       1  2  Tot                 Saves by Period       1  2  Tot
 -------------------------------                 -------------------------------
 UNLV................  4  4 -  8                 UNLV................  5  3 -  8
 Brigham Young....... 14 19 - 33                 Brigham Young.......  1  4 -  5
 Corner Kicks          1  2  Tot                 Fouls                 1  2  Tot
 -------------------------------                 -------------------------------
 UNLV................  0  1 -  1                 UNLV................  6 12 - 18
 Brigham Young.......  3  3 -  6                 Brigham Young.......  9  2 - 11
 SCORING SUMMARY:
 GOAL   Time Team     ## Goal Scorer              Assists
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1.   13:49 UNLV     19 OLSON, Nickie            18 VASQUEZ, Jessika
                                                  cross to header
  2.   17:42 UNLV     14 ENEA, Cristyn            Unassisted
  3.   45:44 BYU      18 VIERNES, Jeni (7)        15 BOWMAN, Brooke/17 CRAMER ROSE, Aleisha
  4.   59:59 BYU      18 VIERNES, Jeni (8)        15 BOWMAN, Brooke/14 FIELDING, Jennifer
                                                  cross to headers
  5.   74:16 BYU      15 BOWMAN, Brooke (6)       20 OJUKA, Lydia
                                                  drop back to shot
 CAUTIONS AND EJECTIONS:
 YC-UNLV #15 (78:55)
 Officials: Referee: Rich Hottel; Asst. Referee: Tyler Ploeger; Brett Stephens;
 Alt. Official: Chuck Carr; Timekeeper: Jerry Freestone; Scorer: Kathy Jensen;
 Offsides: UNLV 0, Brigham Young 2.