PROVO -- The BYU women's soccer team opened up spring play at the 3rd Annual Indoor Invitational Saturday, defeating all three of its opponents.
The Cougars were optimistic and confident Saturday, despite failing to live up to expectations toward the end of the 2005 season.
"Our girls have really been practicing hard these past couple of weeks," head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. "Some girls on the team are playing the best soccer of their lives right now."
BYU played Dixie State in the first game, beating the Rebels 2-0. Carolyn Swenson scored the Cougars' first goal of the day, racing past Dixie State defenders to net her goal. Later in the game, Swenson sent a pass up field to Laura Heaton, who found Annie Zwahlen for her first goal of the spring season.
The Cougars' had an opportunity to work on its biggest weakness, coming from behind, against Weber State in their second game of the day. Weber State got on the board early off a perfectly placed shot--a shot that turned out to be the Wildcats' only shot on goal the entire game.
"I told the girls that this was going to be an opportunity to show toughness and improve on this weakness," Rockwood said. "I thought we handled it pretty well. We didn't panic, which obviously was very important."
Shortly before halftime, Katie Larkin crossed the ball to Jessica Aquino who dribbled past a defender and tapped the ball into the net, tying the score at one apiece. Zwahlen earned the only goal of the second half off an assist from Aquino, propelling the Cougars to a 2-1 victory.
BYU defeated Utah State, 2-0, in Saturday's final game. During the first half of action Katie Fellows received a pass on the left side of the field. She dribbled toward the goal, outrunning the last Aggie defender that left only the goalie between Fellows and the net. Fellows drew out the keeper and gently tapped the ball just past her outstretched hands.
Whitney Feller earned her first goal during spring play after receiving a pass from Heaton and firing off a shot that soared into the top-left corner of the goal.
BYU travels to Las Vegas on this Saturday to challenge UCLA and UNLV. Game times are not yet determined.