TUCSON -- BYU women's soccer exploded for seven goals in two shutout victories against the 2004 Pac-10 Champion-Arizona Wildcats at Murphy Stadium this past Saturday.
The Cougars continue showing great signs of improvement on both sides of the ball this spring, defeating a Wildcat team (15-6 last season) that beat BYU 1-0 in Provo last year, on its way to a first-ever conference championship and NCAA tournament berth.
In the first game of the day, freshman Carolyn Swenson scored her fourth goal of the spring on a breakaway finish from freshman Natalie Nate. Staying on the attack, junior Davia King scored on a breakaway following a pass from senior Jaime Rendich to put the Cougars up by two goals.
Rendich, the team's leading scorer last season with nine goals, scored her second goal of the spring on a ball that was passed through by junior Charlene Lui, extending the Cougar lead to 3-0. Rendich had a team-high five shots in the first game.
BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood said she is very pleased to see the players come together and play so well this spring.
"We got off to a great start," said head coach Jennifer Rockwood. "Our young players are really combining well and combining often. We're getting off some great shots- shots that are much closer to the goal, and so naturally, we're scoring some more goals."
Assistant coach Chris Watkins credited the team's success offensively, with a much wiser shot-selection.
"We're scoring goals from eight or ten yards out instead of from 15 or 20 yards out, where we missed them before. We're not settling for long shots anymore. The girls are attacking the goal more aggressively now and we're having a lot more success."
In the second game, sophomore Bobbi Tillotson scored one goal and set up another and junior Davia King scored twice as the Cougars rolled to a 4-0 victory. Tillotson, who has a team-high four assists this spring, found herself on the scoring end of two good passes by Rendich and Swenson. The goal was Tillotson's first of the spring.
BYU scored again following a cross by Tillotson, when Rendich controlled the loose ball and shot it past the Arizona goalkeeper for her third goal this spring. The Cougars, who stayed on the Wildcat side of the field most of the day, scored their third goal with a crafty pass by Rendich up the middle past the Wildcat defenders to King, who scored from the post. King scored her fourth goal of the spring following a pass from freshman Jessica Aquino and sophomore Annie Zwahlen.
The Cougar defense was equally impressive, showcased by the new formation featuring three forwards on the offensive end and four defenders across the back.
"Jaime (Rendich), Char (Lui) and Natalie Nate were kind of the link that held us together and all three played extraordinarily well for us," said Rockwood. "Vieve (Jenavieve Phillips) in the back with her communication and organization is what's allowing us to do this new system. We have good organization in the back, starting with Vieve."
Rockwood also added that junior Nicole Anderson and freshman Alison Haymond have played extremely well across the back, holding the Wildcats to minimal opportunities to score.
"This system definitely suits the girls. We have spent a lot of time off the field, with leadership, responsibility and team work. The girls have really responded and are and playing together."
The three BYU goalkeepers who split time in the box were freshman Erika Woodbury, sophomore Natalie Evans and junior Ashley Smith. Smith had the only save throughout both games.
Rockwood added: "The fitness level among the players is as good as its ever been. A lot of hard work has turned to success. We still know that we can improve but there is that excitement and enthusiasm that is back again."
The Cougars are hoping that enthusiasm will carry through for the rest of the spring. BYU has the week off before returning to Las Vegas for two games against UNLV and Southern Utah on Saturday, April 2.