PROVO -- Sophomore Brooke Bowman scored three second-half goals to help the current Cougar team pull away in a 6-1 victory over the past BYU soccer players in the seventh annual alumni game this past Friday.
The five-goal offensive breakout in the second half could be credited to an inspirational halftime speech by assistant coach Chris Watkins. Watkins challenged the current players to prove to the alumni they've been working hard this spring.
"Show them you've been training every day for the last nine months while they've been at home changing diapers."
The first goal of the game was scored by sophomore Bobbi Tillotson on a pass by junior Charlene Lui. Tillotson took the pass on the right wing and shot past alumni keeper Camille Thomas, who will be joining the coaching staff this fall as the goalkeeper coach.
The lone alumni goal came at the end of the half when Jennifer Fielding sent the ball up the field to an open Lydia Ojuka, who used some fancy footwork to get past Natalie Evans and put the ball in the back of the net.
Among the 23 alumni present at the game, the halftime break was used more of a time for old friends and teammates to reunite than it was to strategize.
"Its just fun because you go from seeing those girls every day in practice for a few hours and traveling on the weekends and so when you get to see them again, it's great to catch up and hear the latest," said Jennifer Fielding. "They (current BYU team) definitely take it a lot more seriously."
According to Ojuka, head coach Jennifer Rockwood "was just talking more about pizza after the game than anything. It's a really fun reunion for all of us."
The first goal of the second half came after Tillotson dribbled the ball to the end line and passed the ball back to Bowman in the middle from 12 yards out. Bowman shot the ball to the far post, giving the current team a 2-1 lead. Freshman Natalie Nate scored next from 25 yards out on a sweet chip shot over a leaping Camille Thomas. Sophomore Annie Zwahlen, who's had a promising spring season offensively, scored next on a breakaway.
Fielding saw some progress for the current team that struggled last year to make the NCAA tournament for the first time in eight years.
"They look great and they switched their offense. They have a great attack and seem to have built up their defense. They seem really fit and should have a significantly better season than they had last year. The new formation creates more opportunities up front. Brooke Bowman looked great. She'll be awesome out there."
Bowman scored her second goal of the game after Zwahlen floated the ball to the corner of the 18, and Bowman one-touched the ball to the near post. Bowman scored the final goal on a breakaway, assisted by Tillotson.
MWC Freshman of the Year in 2002, Bowman suffered a torn MCL and broken foot during practice in 2003 and sat out the entire year. The Plano, Texas native worked her way back onto the field for 15 games in 2004, but said she still doesn't feel 100 percent.
"I don't feel like I got my speed all the way back, but I'll work hard on that over the summer so I'm back to that (pre-injury) level in the fall. It's hard adjusting to a different role coming off the bench but it makes me work harder for it and not take anything for granted."
Ojuka found kind words to say about the current team following the game. "They played well as a team. It is a pride thing to play the alumni and it forced them to bond together. There's a lot of great talent on the team and they just have to pull it together."
In attempt to keep the current players humble, team manager and alumnus Jennie Christianson said that she believes the current team got lucky.
"For how much we've played, I thought the alumni played well. If we were in as good of shape as the younger girls, we would've smoked them."