In a physical game that provided multiple scoring opportunities for both teams, BYU dropped its second game in a row 1-0, to a talented Arizona team at South Stadium Thursday.
Arizona attempted to jump ahead in the 23rd minute with three quick shots in the goal box coming off a corner kick. The Cougars held strong and worked together to deflect all three shots and the ball was finally cleared by freshman goalkeeper Erika Woodbury.
The intensity of the game increased in the waning minutes of the first half with a crafty move by junior forward Jaime Rendich, just five minutes before half. Rendich drove up the left side past the Wildcat defense deep in Arizona territory, and crossed the ball to junior midfielder Charlene Lui. Arizona goalkeeper McCall Smith stopped the drive by pulling in the header from Lui.
With just under two minutes remaining, Arizona matched BYU's energy with a cross from forward Sally Turner to senior Kamaya Damwijk, who headed the ball into the top-left corner of the goal and put Arizona up 1-0 with the first goal of the game. The goal was immediately called back due to an offsides call by the officials.
After dodging a bullet, BYU instantly attacked in the closing minute before halftime. Rendich again broke away from the Wildcat defense and shot from right to left just outside the penalty box. Smith was there once again and dove back to snag the ball and preserve the scoreless game going into halftime. BYU outshot Arizona 7-3 in the first half, although the Wildcats led the corner kick advantage 6-0 over the Cougars.
Arizona wasted no time early in the second half when midfielder Nikki David passed the Cougar defense on a breakaway and tried shooting over Woodbury. In a manner characteristic of her play all season, Woodbury leaped back across her body to grab the ball, stealing the momentum from Arizona and saving a goal.
"I thought we battled hard and played well tonight," said BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood. "Our defense did a good job, but they got behind us and got off a few good shots."
BYU's best opportunity in the second half came with 36 minutes remaining when a shot by Rendich sailed just inches passed the right goalpost. The game's lone goal came with 18 minutes left in regulation when Arizona midfielder Amanda Urtuzuastegui retrieved a deflected ball in the BYU goal box and found the back of the net, for her first goal of the season.
Another Arizona goal was stopped by junior defender Rachelle Dixon after forward Candice Wilks got passed Woodbury and shot the ball into an open net. Dixon got to the goal just in time to trap the shot and clear the ball. Despite adding an additional forward in the closing minutes, BYU was unable to score, dropping its second game in a row.
Rockwood said she thinks the team is improving despite what BYU's record may reflect.
"We played better this week. Despite the loss, I think we are gaining confidence and learning to play better together. We are still trying a lot of different players at different positions, all in preparation to be ready for the conference tournament. We missed Nicole in the second half, but it just came down to Arizona making one of their shots."
Junior transfer Nicole Anderson was injured on a play late in the first half, a leg contusion, and never returned. Senior midfielder Kimmie Martins missed the game due to a high-ankle sprain suffered in practice this week. Anderson is expected to play Saturday while Martins could miss up to four weeks.
Next up for the Cougars (3-5-1) is Washington State (4-1-1) at home on Saturday Sept. 25 at 7:30 p.m. The game can be viewed live on KBYU and for those with Direct TV and Dish Network, the game will be shown on BYUTV.
Soccer Box Score (Final)
The Automated ScoreBook For Soccer
Univ. of Arizona vs Brigham Young (Sep 23, 2004 at Provo, Utah) Univ. of Arizona (7-1-0) vs. Goals by period 1 2 Tot
Brigham Young (3-5-1) -------------------------------
Date: Sep 23, 2004 Attendance: 1044 Univ. of Arizona.... 0 1 - 1
Weather: Brigham Young....... 0 0 - 0
Univ. of Arizona Brigham Young
Pos ## Player Sh SOG G A Pos ## Player Sh SOG G A
------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------
GK 22 SMITH, McCall....... - - - - GK 28 WOODBURY, Erika..... - - - -
F 2 BODIYA, Claire...... - - - - MF 2 ANDERSON, Amberlea.. - - - -
MF 3 KLEIN, Jennifer..... 1 1 - - F 6 ZWAHLEN, Annie...... 1 1 - -
MF 4 URTUZUASTEGUI, A.... 1 1 1 - MF 9 REINBOLD, Krissa.... 2 2 - -
MF 5 MILLER, Mallory..... - - - - F 11 RENDICH, Jaime...... 6 3 - -
MF 6 BEVACQUA, Erin...... 1 1 - - MF 12 NATE, Natalie....... - - - -
F 8 WILKS, Candice...... 2 - - - MF 16 LUI, Charlene....... 1 1 - -
D 11 HEATH, Kaity........ - - - - MF 19 ANDERSON, Nicole.... - - - -
D 15 SCOTT, Shaylyn...... - - - - MF 20 TILLOTSON, Bobbi.... - - - -
MF 18 SCHEID, Nicole...... - - - - D 25 THOMAS, Claire...... - - - -
D 28 PEEPLES, Lindsey.... - - - - MF 27 HUMPHREY, Lindsy.... - - - -
---------- Substitutes ---------- ---------- Substitutes ----------
7 DAVID, Nikki........ 2 2 - - 4 KING, Davia......... - - - -
13 JONES, Althea....... 2 - - - 7 SWENSON, Carolyn.... - - - -
17 DAMWIJK, Kamaya..... - - - - 10 URRUTIA, Whitney.... - - - -
23 TURNER, Sally....... - - - - 13 DIXON, Rachelle..... - - - -
Totals.............. 9 5 1 0 18 ASAY, Courtney...... - - - -
21 PHILLIPS, Jenavieve. - - - -
24 STAPLES, Stephanie.. - - - -
Totals.............. 10 7 0 0
Univ. of Arizona Brigham Young
## Player MIN GA Saves ## Player MIN GA Saves
--------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
22 SMITH, McCall....... 90:00 0 7 28 WOODBURY, Erika..... 90:00 1 4
Shots by period 1 2 Tot Saves by period 1 2 Tot
------------------------------- -------------------------------
Univ. of Arizona.... 3 6 - 9 Univ. of Arizona.... 6 1 - 7
Brigham Young....... 7 3 - 10 Brigham Young....... 2 2 - 4
Corner kicks 1 2 Tot Fouls 1 2 Tot
------------------------------- -------------------------------
Univ. of Arizona.... 6 3 - 9 Univ. of Arizona.... 6 3 - 9
Brigham Young....... 0 2 - 2 Brigham Young....... 6 4 - 10
SCORING SUMMARY:
GOAL Time Team Goal Scorer Assists Description
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. 71:20 UARIZ URTUZUASTEGUI, A. (1) Corner kick
CAUTIONS AND EJECTIONS:
Officials:
Offsides: Univ. of Arizona 4, Brigham Young 2.