Strong First Half Highlights 4-1 Road Victory

MORAGA, Calif. - A season-high three goals in the first half of action helped propel the BYU women's soccer team to a 4-1 road victory in its final 2011 regular season game against Saint Mary's College and secured its fourth-place standing in the West Coast Conference. 

Senior goalkeeper McKinzie Olson allowed one goal in the entire 90 minutes of play for just her 16th of the season. She also tallied seven saves, most of them coming in the second half and from an opponent shooting inside the box. Olson has made 281 saves in her career at BYU as the all-time career saves leader. 

BYU got things started early with a little help from forward Carlee Payne who got the Cougars on the board in the 7th minute. Teammates Colette Jepson and Lauren Anderson Cosby assisted on the goal. Four minutes later, Jessica Ringwood found the back of the net for BYU's second goal off passes from Payne and Jennie Marshall.

Niki Fernandes, who had injured her wrist earlier in the season, finished off a cross-pass combination from Jepson and Payne for BYU's third goal before the Gaels had a chance to get one of their own. 

In the 36th minute, Daelyn Paul was able to sneak a ball past Olson after a scuffle in the box for Saint Mary's lone goal of the game. Paul finished with two shots on the day while teammate Jordan Marada led all players with six shots.

Six different Gaels had at least one shot compared to the 10 players from BYU who took at least one shot. Jaiden Thornock and Niki Fernandes led the Cougar squad with five shots each. BYU's total of 25 shots against the Gaels ties their previous season-high.

In the second half, Saint Mary's turned up the offensive pressure and took eight shots but Olson again came up with big saves for BYU. At the 57th and 69th minutes, Olson stopped shots from inside the box to keep the Gaels with just one goal.

Midfielder Rachel Manning finished out the game for BYU with a goal in the 86th minute off a rebound from teammate Lindsi Lisonbee's free kick. The goal was Manning's first of the season.

The Cougars finish the regular season with an 11-5-3, 5-2-1 record in their first season with the West Coast Conference.

The NCAA Tournament field of 64 will be unveiled live on the NCAA web site Monday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. PST.