PROVO -- BYU scored twice in the first ten minutes of action and never looked back as the battle of first place in the MWC went clearly to the Cougars They defeated Air Force 7-0 on South Field, Thursday. The win improves the BYU's record to 9-6-1, 3-1. The loss drops the Falcons to 7-8-1, 2-2 on the season.
Three minutes into the game, freshman Kim Devine started off the scoring barrage with her seventh goal of the season. Speedster sophomore Lydia Ojuka, in only her fourth start this year, scored her first goal of the season ten minutes into the game for a quick 2-0 lead.
Jeni Willardson Viernes scored her sixth goal of the season 27 minutes into the first half off an assist from Jennie Christianson. All-American Aleisha Cramer scored her sixth goal as well off a direct kick just outside the box 35 minutes into the half. Terra Smith joined in the action with her first goal of the season off a header that bounced off an Air Force player and into the net to finish off the Cougar's strongest first half of the year with a 5-0 lead.
BYU added two more goals in the second half as Cramer scored her second goal of the night in the 62nd minute. Freshman Megan Dickerson, playing in only her second game of the season coming off ACL surgery, scored her first career goal with only five minutes left. BYU outshot Air Force 27-4 in the contest.
"This week we worked really hard at practice, starting over and setting new goals for the remainder of the season," said head coach Jennifer Rockwood. "We had a lot of excitement coming into the game, stayed focused, and tonight was an overall great team effort."
BYU will host conference opponent Wyoming on Saturday night with a 7:00 kickoff at South Field.
-agate- BYU-7, AFA-0
Scoring:
BYU-Kim Devine, 3:23 (unassisted)
BYU-Lydia Ojuka, 10:00 (unassisted)
BYU-Jeni W. Viernes, 27:08 (Jennie Christianson, assist)
BYU-Aleisha Cramer, 34:54 (unassisted)
BYU-Terra Smith, 39:37 (Aleisha Cramer, assist)
BYU-Aleisha Cramer, 62:18 (Lydia Ojuka, assist)
BYU-Megan Dickerson, 84:46 (Rachelle Dixon, Annie Hoecherl, assists)
Shots:
BYU-27, AFA-4
Saves:
BYU-Jennifer Waldron-1, Kylee Dickson-0; AFA-Jennifer Monson-1, J.J. Wolf-5