PROVO -- Erika Woodbury became BYU's all-time saves leader Saturday night at South Stadium as the No. 14 Cougars prevailed 1-0 over the San Francisco Dons from the West Coast Conference. With the win BYU improved to 9-1-1 on the season while USF fell to 4-6-1.
"I thought we played very well tonight," BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. "San Francisco is a very talented team that plays in perhaps the toughest conference in the country."
Woodbury put herself atop BYU recordbooks in the 31st minute with her 160th career save when she came up with a San Francisco shot attempt on the left side.
"You can't say enough about Erika's ability in the back of the goal," Rockwood said. "She is so quick and athletic and reads the game very well."
BYU controlled the action throughout the first half of play, outshooting the Dons 9-3 but still could not manage to take advantage of several close opportunities.
Annie Zwahlen came very close early in the half when the ball came free in front of her about 10 yards out on the right side. However USF keeper Katie Hodgson came over to make a diving save. A couple minutes later Carolyn Swenson drove the right side between a pair of Don defenders and sent a pass across to an open Natalie Nate on the left side but her header went just wide of the goal.
USF had a chance to break through in the 11th minute but a Jessica Duty shot came up just wide of the net.
The Cougars controlled the action the rest of the first half but a tough Don defense kept them away from the nets.
BYU had another close chance late in the half when Jenavieve Phillips wove in and out of San Francisco defenders in the middle of the field and fired a rocket from 20 yards out that bounced off the cross bar and out.
The Cougars came out in the second half and continued to control the action, keeping Hodgson on her heels almost the entire half. She made several tough saves in the half as BYU once again outshot the Dons 11-2 in the half.
BYU finally got on the board in the 78th minute when Katie Larkin got the ball 10 yards behind midfield and took several long strides to beat the Don defensive line. With one defender left, she flipped it to Jessica Aquino who one touched it past Hodgson into the bottom right corner of the net for the Cougar goal.
From there the BYU defense held strong and did not allow USF to advance the ball much past midfield.
The Cougars will return to action next week when they open up conference play at TCU on Thursday October 5 at 7:00 p.m., before taking on Utah Saturday afternoon.
For stats from the game, click on the link at the top of the page.