BYU soccer wins season opener for the sixth year in a row, defeats Saint Louis 3-2

No. 13 BYU women’s soccer defeated the No. 21 Saint Louis Billikens 3-2 on Thursday evening in its home opener on South Field. For the sixth year in a row, the Cougars have won their season opener.

Author Lauren Thomas Bosco
_E1_9917 (1)_E1_9917 (1)
Box Score

PROVO, Utah — No. 13 BYU women’s soccer defeated the No. 21 Saint Louis Billikens 3-2 on Thursday evening in its home opener on South Field. For the sixth year in a row, the Cougars have won their season opener.

BOX SCORE

Saint Louis has not allowed more than two goals in a game since its last game of the 2021 season, when the Billikens lost 4-0 against Rutgers in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Tonight’s matchup was also the first official game played by any BYU team as part of the new Big 12 era.

"It was a huge win for us against a very good team that leads the country in scoring. We certainly had our ups and downs throughout the game. We had some good composure and bad composure, but that’s why we play a team like this from the beginning – so we have lots to learn from. We’re going to learn how to close out games a lot better, but we held on to the win, and that’s most important."

Jennifer Rockwood.BYU head coach
DJI_0958 (2)
_E1_5024 (1)
_E1_0493 (2)
Olivia Katoa Wade pointing and cheering
_E1_0357 (1)
_50A6173 (2)
_E1_1027 (2)
_50A5449 (2)

First Half

The Cougars scored first and scored early, with two goals within the first ten minutes of the match. Sophomore Allie Fryer attempted a header that ricocheted off the bar, then Bella Folino followed through with a put back, putting BYU ahead 1-0 just 1:37 into the match. Another goal for the Cougars came from Olivia Wade Katoa toward the top right of the box at 9:13, with assists by Jamie Shepherd and Ellie Boren, to put BYU on top 2-0.

The Billikens responded with a goal at 13:20, when Caroline Kelly shot the ball from about 20 yards out off of a turnover by the BYU defense, making the score 2-1. 

After three early goals in the match, BYU maintained the majority of the possession, with 10 more shots on goal. BYU keeper Savannah Mason earned her first save of the night at the 16:46 mark. The Cougars found their third goal with two minutes left until halftime. Sophomore Erin Bailey came off the bench and sent the ball off her right foot toward the top left of the goal, with an assist by Kendell Petersen, to make it 3-1.

The Cougars outshot the Billikens 16-6 in the first half. Fryer and Wade-Katoa led the Cougars in shots with five a piece.

Second Half

The second half played out to be more physical, with three fouls called in the first three minutes. Saint Louis looked to add some pressure on the Cougars, with three consecutive shots on goal. BYU remained assertive, with Mozingo and Ellie Walbruch both having glimpses of a goal around the 63 minute mark.

Off a deflection, Saint Louis lessened BYU’s lead to 3-2, with a goal by Emily Gaebe at the 85:42 mark.

The Cougars were able to hold off a few late Billiken pushes to finish on top, 3-2.

The Cougars outshot the Billikens 26 to 17 in the match.

Up next, the Cougars will remain in Provo to host Cal State Fullerton on Saturday evening on South Field at 7 p.m. MDT. The game will be streaming live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.