PROVO -- Friday night, junior Katie Larkin of Draper, Utah (Alta HS), a Hermann Trophy Candidate, scored her third game-winning goal in BYU's record fifth shutout in a row as the No. 17 Cougars beat Wisconsin 1-0 at South Stadium.
At the end of the game, only three Division 1 schools had yet to allow a goal in the 2007 season; Appalachian State, Northern Arizona, and Brigham Young University. Senior goalkeeper Erika Woodbury is also one of 13 keepers in the nation to not have allowed a goal.
Two other times in school history BYU shutout its opponents four regular-season games in a row. Including the Cougars' exhibition game against Dixie State, Friday's win marks the sixth shutout in a row for BYU.
"Our bench came up and turned things around for us in the first half," BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. "Our starters came back and held it down in the second half. I thought Amanda Draeger was the player of the game because she won a lot of the headers in the back field and played a great game defensively for us."
Wisconsin tested BYU's stalwart defense early and often in the first half, but the Cougars would not concede. The Badgers kept pressure on the Cougar defense and tallied seven corner kicks in the first half opposed to BYU?s one.
Despite the threat, BYU turned up the heat even more on Wisconsin. BYU racked up five shots to Wisconsin?s one and two shots on goal to Wisconsin's none in the first 45 minutes.
The second half was all Cougars. The Badgers dodged a bullet in the 56th when Larkin beat the Badger defense and crossed the ball to freshman Becca Riddle of Midvale, Utah (Hillcrest HS) who missed by only inches on the one-touch shot.
In the 63rd minute, however, Larkin made up for it. She split three defenders and buried a left-footed goal from 25 yards into the far post for her third goal of the season.
"Our half-time speech was very motivational," Larkin said. "We came out of the locker room and knew what we had to do. This is the most close-knit team I have ever been a part of and we work hard for each other."
With the win, BYU improves to 4-0-1 on the year and Wisconsin drops to 2-2-1.
In order to keep the shutout streak alive, BYU will have to take on Pacific who is also undefeated in five games this season. BYU beat Pacific on the road in 2006 and the Tigers will be looking to break the BYU's opponents' scoring drought. The game will be held at South Stadium on Monday at 8 p.m. All BYU parking lots will be available after 7 p.m.
Soccer Box Score (Final)
Wisconsin vs Brigham Young (Sep 14, 2007 at Provo, Utah)
Wisconsin (2-2-1) vs.
Brigham Young (4-0-1)
Date: Sep 14, 2007 Attendance: 2574
Goals by period 1 2 Total
Wisconsin 0 0 0
Brigham Young 0 1 1
Wisconsin
Pos ## Player Sh SOG G A Min
GK 0 Klages, Jamie 0 0 0 0 90
MF 4 Riley, Darcy 0 0 0 0 60
MF 8 Sarkesian, Marissa 0 0 0 0 90
D 9 Meuer, Katy 0 0 0 0 72
MF 12 Ferron, Sheri 0 0 0 0 81
MF 13 Liskevych, Krista 0 0 0 0 49
D 14 Terry, Shannon 0 0 0 0 66
D 15 Eshun, Ann 0 0 0 0 90
MF 17 Owusu, Whitney 1 0 0 0 64
D 23 Leibham, Birdie 0 0 0 0 90
D 27 Rudzinski, Lauren 0 0 0 0 86
--- Substitutes ---
2 Krombach, Tricia 0 0 0 0 30
5 Krombach, Stephanie1 1 0 0 8
7 Gallagher, Carly 0 0 0 0 5
10 Francel, Taryn 0 0 0 0 9
18 Carlson, Roxanne 0 0 0 0 54
22 Flanagan, Kellyn 0 0 0 0 39
28 Boberschmidt, Sarah0 0 0 0 8
Totals......... 2 1 0 0
## Goalie Minutes GA Saves
0 Klages, Jamie 90:00 1 5
TM TM 0:00 0 1
Brigham Young
Pos ## Player Sh SOG G A Min
GK 28 WOODBURY, Erika 0 0 0 0 90
D 4 COOK, Karen 0 0 0 0 51
MF 7 SWENSON, Carolyn 1 0 0 0 90
D 9 DRAEGER, Amanda 1 0 0 0 88
D 10 CARTER, Jessica 0 0 0 0 77
D 11 WILLIS, Andrea 0 0 0 0 90
MF 12 HENRIKSEN, Natalie 2 1 0 0 53
MF 15 KAKADELAS, Kelsea 0 0 0 0 71
F 16 GREENFIELD, Jessica0 0 0 0 48
F 18 LARKIN, Katie 4 4 1 0 90
F 22 FELLOWS, Katie 1 0 0 0 48
--- Substitutes ---
2 HARMAN, Alison 0 0 0 0 24
3 RIDDLE, Becca 2 0 0 0 42
5 FELLER, Whitney 2 1 0 0 42
14 JAMESON, Ashleigh 0 0 0 0 17
20 DOW, Kristi 1 1 0 0 42
21 CHRISTENSEN, Kassidy0 0 0 0 15
25 URRY, Nicole 0 0 0 0 13
Totals......... 14 7 1 0
## Goalie Minutes GA Saves
28 WOODBURY, Erika 90:00 0 1
Shots by period 1 2 Total
Wisconsin 1 1 2
Brigham Young 5 9 14
Corner kicks 1 2 Total
Wisconsin 7 1 8
Brigham Young 1 3 4
Saves by period 1 2 Total
Wisconsin 2 4 6
Brigham Young 0 1 1
Fouls 1 2 Total
Wisconsin 4 8 12
Brigham Young 4 4 8
SCORING SUMMARY
Goal Time Team Goal Scorer Assists Description
1. 63:09 BY LARKIN, Katie (3) (unassisted)
CAUTIONS AND EJECTIONS
WIS #TM TM Yellow card 77:31
Officials:
Offsides: Wisconsin 1, Brigham Young 1.