Four Cougars score in 4-1 victory

PROVO, Utah - The No. 5 ranked BYU women’s soccer team defeated Gonzaga 4-1 in front of 4,557 fans, the second largest home crowd this season.

“I thought the girls played a great game today,” BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. “They were hungry and wanted to score a lot of goals in front of our fans. I thought we really took care of things, especially in the second half, doing a really nice job on our attack.”

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The Cougars improve their record to 14-1-1 overall and 3-0-1 in the West Coast Conference, and are currently on a 13-game unbeaten streak.

The Bulldog’s loss puts them at 6-8-1 overall and 0-3-0 in the WCC.

Five minutes into the game, BYU took the ball into Gonzaga territory on a free kick when Hermann Trophy Watch List candidate Lindsi Lisonbee Cutshall gave the Cougars an early 1-0 advantage. The Cougars got the free kick opportunity after defender Dana Oldroyd Cusick was pushed from behind as she was moving the ball up field. Cutshall’s shot was deflected off a Gonzaga defender’s head.

Following the score, the Cougars had several close attempts on goal but were unable to connect with the net. They headed two over the cross bar and shot one off the left post.

Heading into the half leading the Bulldogs by one, BYU had 11 shots on goal and eight corner kicks.

Entering the second half, Gonzaga struck first scoring after only three minutes of play to tie the game 1-1. Gonzaga capitalized on their first shot of the night. Three minutes later, Michele Murphy pushed back by taking the ball deep in Gonzaga territory before passing off to Jaiden Thornock. Thornock fired a shot on goal, but for the second time, the ball rocketed off the left post out of bounds.

Immediate response from the Cougars led to their second goal following three quick shots giving the home team a 2-1 lead. Cusick crossed the ball into the keeper’s box to Rachel Manning. Manning chipped the ball up to Cloee Colohan who headed it into the net.

The Cougars scored again 10 minutes later on a pass-play combination from Cusick to Carlee Payne Holmoe to Murphy, who buried the ball in the left corner of the net. Nine minutes following goal three, the Cougars struck yet again with another pass-play combination from Colohan to Thornock to Jessica Ringwood. Ringwood came from outside the box with a sliding kick for the score putting the Cougars up 4-1.

Up next for BYU is a road trip to California for its next conference matchup on Oct. 25 against San Diego. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. PDT.

The Cougars return for one final conference home game on Oct. 27 hosting Saint Mary’s in a 1 p.m. MDT, kick off. The 2012 senior class will be recognized.