Cougars Show Great Signs In Spring Tourney
PROVO, UT (February 26, 2005 - In the opening game of the 2nd Annual Indoor Invitational Saturday afternoon, freshman Carolyn Swenson scored a goal with 30 seconds remaining in regulation, to help BYU defeat Dixie 1-0 in the Indoor Practice Facility.
The annual tournament has no trophy and does not name a champion. The games are little more than organized scrimmages, but that didn't stop the Cougars from playing some of their best soccer of late. BYU came out energetic and optimistic, attempting to turn the page of an off-year and restore the team to its winning-ways.
"We've been working on the finishing pass this last month and it was the perfect opportunity to score," said Swenson. "We've just really been practicing and playing well together lately. Everyone was really excited for this tournament and we all wanted to come out and play well."
With time running out in regulation, sophomore Annie Zwahlen stole the ball from a Dixie defender deep on Dixie's side of the field and dribbled up the sideline. She crossed the ball from the corner to an open Swenson in front of the net, who one-touched the ball past Dixie's sliding goalkeeper and lifted the Cougars to victory.
"Annie and Carolyn put it together when it counted; it was a great goal," said head coach Jennifer Rockwood. "This tournament gives the opportunity for a lot of players to get some good minutes and showcase their talents. The spring games really are used to develop the players, give them minutes, and have a lot of fun."
In the second game, Utah State defeated Weber State 1-0, followed by a match that saw Utah defeat UVSC 1-0.
In the fourth game, BYU exploded offensively with four goals from different players and defeated Weber State 4-0.
Just five minutes into the first half of play, junior Nicole Anderson brought the ball up the sideline and passed to Swenson down the line. Swenson found Zwahlen flying across the middle and Zwahlen shot the ball off the sliding Weber State goalkeeper. The ball was deflected straight up in the air and was headed by a persistent Zwahlen over the keeper and into the goal, for the game's first goal.
"It feels good and it's been a while since I scored last," said Zwahlen. "I think we're playing awesome. I'm pleasantly surprised. There's a new attitude on the team and everybody's having fun."
Two minutes later, newly married BYU junior Jaime Beck (formerly Rendich), scored on a penalty kick, following a hand ball in the box.
The Cougars third goal came on a ball played over the top of the Wildcat defense. Once again, Swenson sprinted past her defender to the loose ball and drove to the goal, sliding the shot past the sliding Wildcat goalkeeper. With five seconds left in the game, BYU scored its final goal when freshman Alison Haymond passed the ball down the line to junior Bobbi Tillotson, who drove to the corner for the cross. Tillotson found junior Davia King for the one-touch goal as time expired.
"We're having a lot of fun with each other," said Haymond. "There's more of a unity with everybody helping each other. It's like a bunch of friends playing together."
The two BYU goalkeepers who combined for all three shutouts were sophomore Natalie Evans and junior Ashley Smith.
In the 5:30 p.m. game, UVSC deafeated Dixie 2-1 and Utah beat Utah State 2-0 in the game that started at 6:30 p.m.
The tournaments final game saw BYU and Utah State play to a 0-0 tie. Despite controlling the ball most of the second half, the Cougars were unable to score. Many of the fans in attendence saw positive signs from the Cougars' play throughout the opening springs games.
"BYU's always been a hard working and disciplined team in the spring and that hard worked paid off with some good solid finishes on goal today," said former player Rachelle Dixon.
The Cougars got an early peek at next season's competition, opening the 2005 home schedule against Weber State, followed by Utah State two days later.
Next up in the spring season, BYU will travel to Las Vegas for the UNLV Invitational. The Cougars face off first against Utah at 11 a.m., UC Riverside at 3 p.m. and UNLV at 4 p.m.