PROVO -- The BYU women’s soccer team won its last home game of the season in a 1-0 victory over Weber State Tuesday. The Cougars also honored their five seniors who played their last game at South Field in front of more than 1500 fans.
“We have an amazing group of seniors who are loved so much,” BYU coach Jennifer Rockwood said. “It was a very emotional night for the team.”
BYU set a quick pace to start the first half, passing the ball around and keeping possession. The game went back-and-forth for nearly 20 minutes before the Cougars got their first real look at goal when senior Katie Fellows Hodgkiss headed the ball over the crossbar.
The Cougars kept pressure on Weber State with shots from several players flying just outside of the post. Senior Katie Larkin crossed a ball in the 39th minute that was tapped on by Jennie Marshall to sophomore Becca Riddle. Riddle, who was unmarked in the box, sent the shot inches wide of the left post.
Freshman Auna Janis struck a minute later to give BYU the 1-0 lead. Janis launched the ball high and to the back of the net after the Weber State defense blocked a BYU shot to her feet.
“Auna’s goal was fantastic,” Rockwood said.
BYU did not let up in the closing minutes of the half, forcing WSU goalkeeper Rebecca Ritchie to tip a high ball to safety behind the goal. Ritchie bobbled a long-range shot from junior Alyssa Vander Veur, but the referee ruled that the ball did not cross the goal line.
Half time gave the Cougars a spark and sophomore Kassidy Christensen aimed a high shot over the crossbar three minutes in. Ten minutes later, Hodgkiss found an opening in the Weber State defense, but the Wildcats’ keeper got her fingertips to the ball and sent it sailing to the right and out-of-bounds.
The Cougars had sporadic chances the remainder of the half but were unable to notch another goal. The best opportunity fell to Larkin, whose free kick at the edge of the box drifted up and away from the goal with nine minutes left.
With the win, BYU improved to 14-5-0 on the season and Weber State dropped to 7-9-2. The Cougars will play their last regular season game Saturday in Wyoming
“We want to go undefeated in the conference,” Rockwood said. “We are still focused and working to get better and be ready for Wyoming.”
The game at Wyoming will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1. A live stat feed will be available at www.byucougars.com/soccer_w/.
Fans can join the BYU Athletic Marketing Women's Soccer Texting group by texting the word "WSOC" to 83043. Members of the group will receive information about upcoming games and promotions, as well as updates on the team.
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Soccer Box Score (Final)
The Automated ScoreBook For Soccer
WSU vs BY (Oct 28, 2008 at Provo, Utah)
WSU (7-9-2) vs. Goals by period 1 2 Tot
BY (14-5-0) -------------------------------
Date: Oct 28, 2008 Attendance: 1563 WSU................. 0 0 - 0
Weather: BY.................. 1 0 - 1
WSU BY
Pos ## Player Sh SOG G A Pos ## Player Sh SOG G A
------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------
GK 32 Rebecca Ritchie..... - - - - GK 32 OLSON, McKinzie..... - - - -
F 4 Kelly Robinson...... 1 - - - F 3 ANDERSON, Lauren.... 1 1 - -
MF 6 Ari Wood............ 1 - - - D 4 COOK, Karen......... 1 1 - -
MF 12 Alyssa Foutz........ - - - - MF 5 FELLER, Whitney..... 1 1 - -
F 17 Whitney Smith....... 1 - - - D 10 CARTER, Jessica..... - - - -
MF 19 Collette Simmons.... 1 1 - - D 11 WILLIS, Andrea...... - - - -
MF 20 Molli Neilson....... - - - - MF 15 KAKADELAS, Kelsea... 2 - - -
MF 21 Shaylee Hyde........ - - - - F 18 LARKIN, Katie....... 7 4 - -
D 23 Lindsay Ellis....... - - - - F 21 CHRISTENSEN, Kassidy 1 - - -
D 25 Shannon Thompson.... - - - - F 22 HODGKISS, Katie..... 4 1 - -
D 31 Ashtyn Webster...... - - - - D 25 URRY, Nicole........ 2 1 - -
---------- Substitutes ---------- ---------- Substitutes ----------
5 Kylie Johnson....... - - - - 6 RICHARDSON, Megan... - - - -
7 Lindsay Ortgiesen... - - - - 7 MARSHALL, Jennie.... - - - -
15 Emily Freshman...... - - - - 12 RIDDLE, Becca....... 2 1 - -
16 Kierstin Wood....... - - - - 14 JAMESON, Ashleigh... 1 - - -
22 Abby Robinson....... - - - - 16 JANIS, Auna......... 1 1 1 -
Totals.............. 4 1 0 0 20 DOW-JACKSON, Kristi. - - - -
23 VANDER Veur, Alyssa. 1 - - -
Totals.............. 24 11 1 0
WSU BY
## Player MIN GA Saves ## Player MIN GA Saves
--------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
32 Rebecca Ritchie..... 90:00 1 9 32 OLSON, McKinzie..... 90:00 0 1
TM TEAM................ 0:00 0 1
Shots by period 1 2 Tot Saves by period 1 2 Tot
------------------------------- -------------------------------
WSU................. 1 3 - 4 WSU................. 6 4 - 10
BY.................. 15 9 - 24 BY.................. 0 1 - 1
Corner kicks 1 2 Tot Fouls 1 2 Tot
------------------------------- -------------------------------
WSU................. 0 0 - 0 WSU................. 3 4 - 7
BY.................. 7 4 - 11 BY.................. 6 6 - 12
SCORING SUMMARY:
GOAL Time Team Goal Scorer Assists Description
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. 39:18 BY JANIS, Auna (unassisted)
CAUTIONS AND EJECTIONS:
Officials:
Offsides: WSU 0, BY 1.