Cougars head to Honolulu for season opener

PROVO -- The BYU Women’s Soccer team will head to Honolulu on Friday to compete in their season opener against Hawaii at 7 p.m. Hawaii Time.

BYU played its pre-season game against Dixie College at South Field last Saturday. With a 7-0 win in that game, the Cougars are ready to get the season started. Against Dixie College, sophomore Lauren Anderson led the team with three goals and one assist.

The last meeting between BYU and Hawaii was in 2005 when the Cougars took the win 1-0 in overtime.

The Cougars have been nationally recognized this season in numerous pre-season polls including the NSCAA and TopDrawerSoccer.com.

The National Soccer Coaches Association of America ranked BYU in the 25th spot after their 18-5-1 record last season. TopDrawerSoccer.com moved BYU from the 20th place last season to the 19th place this season. Both polls also include West Virginia and Oklahoma State, two Cougar opponents for this season.

Senior Andrea Willis leads the Cougar defense this season. Willis was recently voted to the 2009 Hermann Trophy Watch List, an honor given to only 45 Division I collegiate soccer athletes each season. Finalists for this award are announced in early December.

In a pre-season poll from the Western Athletic Conference, Hawaii was picked to finish second in the conference this season with three players selected to the pre-season All-Conference Team.

To get ready for the Cougar’s first home game on Sept. 4, purchase your reserved tickets now by calling 422.BYU1 or visiting www.byutickets.com.

Join the official BYU Women’s Soccer Texting group by texting “wsoc” to 83043. Members of the group receive game times and promotions, such as 2-for-1 discounts to EVERY game!