Cougars Top Aggies on Draeger, Larkin Goals

PROVO -- In a uniquely physical game, Hermann Trophy candidate Katie Larkin (Draper, Utah - Alta HS) came up with last-minute heroics and made the game-winning goal against Utah State as BYU won 2-1 Thursday night at South Stadium.

Larkin, the Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Week, leads the MWC in game-winning goals with eight. She also recorded an assist in the game and has a total of 20 points on the season. BYU improved to 9-0-2 with the win and remains the only undefeated team in the conference.

"There is no question that Utah State came ready to play tonight," BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. "They took us out of our rhythm, but I am proud of our girls for coming back in the second half and winning that game."

Both teams played with physical styles and attacked the goal early. Five minutes into the game, Larkin passed the ball to senior co-captain Carolyn Swenson (Fruit Heights, Utah - Davis HS) who was wide open in front of the goal, but play was stopped as Swenson was called offsides.

Utah State threatened three minutes later and kicked the ball past senior goalkeeper Erika Woodbury into the back of the net, but the goal was taken away on a hand-ball violation.

Junior defender Amanda Draeger scored her first goal of the season fifteen minutes into the game on an assist from Larkin. Larkin was on the left side of the box and crossed the ball to Draeger who stood 25 yards from the goal. After controlling the ball, Draeger hit a right-footed bender to the left side to become only the third Cougar to score this season.

Three minutes did not pass before the Aggies equalized. Junior Candice Clark (Provo, Utah - Timpview HS) split two BYU defenders to get within 12 yards of the goal and scored off the left post. It was the first goal scored against BYU in the first half this season and only the third goal in eleven games.

In the 30th minute Larkin created another opportunity for the Cougars and got fouled inside the Utah State 18-yard box. Andrea Willis took the penalty kick, but Aggie keeper Ali Griffin (South Jordan, Utah - Bingham HS) was able to block the kick and keep the game knotted at one.

With the offsides flag up on the Cougar end of the field with three minutes left in the first half, Utah State unleashed a shot that Woodbury reeled in easily. The frightening moment came after she fell on the ball and did not get up right away. She had been incidentally cut by someone's cleat and received a deep gash.

She left the field with her left knee wrapped and was replaced by freshman keeper Aleena Shelton (Layton, Utah - Clearfield HS). It was Shelton's first minutes in regular-season intercollegiate play.

At the half, Utah State had four shots on goal to BYU's two marking the first time the Cougars were outshot in any half this season. The foul count was also lopsided in the Aggies' favor 9-3.

Woodbury returned to the game in the 57th minute after receiving ten stitches and finished the rest of the game.

There were not as many scoring opportunities for either team in the second half, but Larkin created the shot she needed to score her ninth goal of the season. She dribbled around three defenders on the right side and turned to boot a left-footed lob into the top left corner of the goal.

BYU will leave for Arizona early Friday morning for its game against the University of Arizona on Saturday night at 7 p.m. in Tucson, Ariz. The team and its coaches will also be involved in a panel discussion and fireside Friday evening in Tucson. More details about the event can be found at www.byucougars.com.

Click here to go to live stats for Saturday night's game.

Soccer Box Score (Final)
Utah State vs Brigham Young (Oct 04, 2007 at Provo, Utah)
Utah State (4-7-0) vs.Brigham Young (9-0-2)
Date: Oct 04, 2007 Attendance: 1665
Goals by period 1  	2  	Total 
Utah State  	1  	0  	1 
Brigham Young  	1  	1  	2 
Utah State
Pos ##  Player  	        Sh  	SOG  	G  	A  	Min 
GK  1   Griffin, Ali   	        0  	0  	0  	0  	90 
D   2   Malaska, Jessie   	0  	0  	0  	0  	90 
MF  4   Hunt, Abby   	        0  	0  	0  	0  	90 
D   9   Smart, Lindsey   	0  	0  	0  	0  	90 
D   12  Lowry, Alyssa   	0  	0  	0  	0  	90 
MF  14  Christenson, Lacey   	0  	0  	0  	0  	90 
F   16  Nilsson, Kiersten   	0  	0  	0  	0  	46 
D   18  Porter, Sydne   	1  	1  	0  	0  	45 
F   19  Clark, Candice   	2  	2  	1  	0  	58 
F   22  Peart, Dana   	        1  	1  	0  	1  	90 
MF  25  Adams, Alysa   	        0  	0  	0  	0  	46 
   	--- Substitutes --- 
    3   Shiozaki, Stefani   	0  	0  	0  	1  	66 
    8   Salmon, Erin   	        0  	0  	0  	0  	14 
    10  Ross, Shannon   	0  	0  	0  	0  	45 
    17  Hansen, Lauren   	0  	0  	0  	0  	32 
    20  Pond, Heather   	0  	0  	0  	0  	7 
  	Totals.........  	4  	4  	1  	2 
##  	Goalie  	Minutes GA  	Saves 
1   	Griffin, Ali   	90:00  	2  	3 
Brigham Young
Pos  ##  	Player  	Sh  	SOG  	G  	A  	Min 
GK   28 WOODBURY, Erika   	0  	0  	0  	0  	73 
MF   7  SWENSON, Carolyn   	0  	0  	0  	0  	90 
D    9  DRAEGER, Amanda   	1  	1  	1  	0  	49 
D    10 CARTER, Jessica   	0  	0  	0  	0  	90 
D    11 WILLIS, Andrea   	3  	2  	0  	0  	90 
MF   12 HENRIKSEN, Natalie   	1  	1  	0  	0  	77 
MF   15 KAKADELAS, Kelsea   	0  	0  	0  	0  	73 
F    16 GREENFIELD, Jessica   	0  	0  	0  	0  	21 
F    18 LARKIN, Katie   	1  	1  	1  	1  	90 
F    22 FELLOWS, Katie   	2  	0  	0  	0  	68 
D    25 URRY, Nicole   	        0  	0  	0  	0  	82 
   	--- Substitutes --- 
     1  SHELTON, Aleena   	0  	0  	0  	0  	17 
     2  HARMAN, Alison   	0  	0  	0  	0  	22 
     3  RIDDLE, Becca   	0  	0  	0  	0  	22 
     5  FELLER, Whitney   	0  	0  	0  	0  	13 
     6  RICHARDSON, Megan   	0  	0  	0  	0  	8 
     8  PORTWOOD, Stephanie   	0  	0  	0  	0  	17 
     14 JAMESON, Ashleigh   	0  	0  	0  	0  	19 
     21 CHRISTENSEN, Kassidy  	0  	0  	0  	0  	69 
    	Totals.........  	8  	5  	2  	1 
##  	Goalie  	   Minutes  	GA  	Saves 
28  	WOODBURY, Erika    73:04  	1  	3 
1   	SHELTON, Aleena    16:56  	0  	0 
Shots by period 1  	2  	Total 
Utah State  	4  	0  	4 
Brigham Young  	2  	6  	8 
Corner kicks   	1  	2  	Total 
Utah State  	2  	3  	5 
Brigham Young  	3  	2  	5 
Saves by period 1  	2  	Total 
Utah State  	1  	2  	3 
Brigham Young  	3  	0  	3 
Fouls   	1  	2  	Total 
Utah State  	3  	10  	13 
Brigham Young  	9  	9  	18 
SCORING SUMMARY
Goal  	Time  	Team  	Goal Scorer  	Assists  	Description 
1.  	14:19  	BY   	DRAEGER, Amanda  	LARKIN, Katie 
2.  	17:28  	USU   	Clark, Candice  	Shiozaki, Stefani; Peart, Dana 
3.  	87:16  	BY   	LARKIN, Katie  	(unassisted) 
CAUTIONS AND EJECTIONS
USU   	#19  	Clark, Candice   	Yellow card  	16:30 
USU   	#9  	Smart, Lindsey   	Yellow card  	66:21 
Officials:
Offsides: Utah State 0, Brigham Young 2.