Cougars take on Broncos Saturday evening

No. 11 BYU women’s soccer will hit the road for its first regular-season road match against the Boise State Broncos Saturday evening.

Author Brenna Seeman
Olivia Smith-Griffitts vs LBSUOlivia Smith-Griffitts vs LBSU

PROVO, Utah – No. 11 BYU women’s soccer will hit the road for its first regular-season road match against the Boise State Broncos Saturday evening.

GAME NOTES

IN THE RANKINGS. The Cougars started their 2023 campaign ranked No. 13 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll, and No. 12 in the Top Drawer Soccer poll. After two home wins through the first week of the season, BYU moved up to No. 11 in both national polls.

Saturday’s matchup is scheduled for 7 p.m. MDT. The game will be streamed on the Mountain West Network. 

BYU vs. Boise State

LAST TIME ON THE FIELD. BYU last played Long Beach State on Thursday, Aug. 24, securing its first shutout of the regular season, 2-0. Senior captain Olivia Wade-Katoa scored off a poor LBSU defensive clearance, sending the ball into the top of the goal, scraping the crossbar in the 30th minute. This was Wade-Katoa’s third goal on the season, scoring once in each regular-season match. Senior forward Bella Folino received a cross from Olivia Smith-Griffitts inside the 18-yard box to score her second goal of the season, 30th of her career. BYU goalkeeper Savanna Mason secured her first regular-season shutout on the year, recording five saves against The Beach.

THE BRONCOS. The Boise State Broncos last played at North Dakota on Sunday, Aug. 20, winning 3-2. All three Boise State goals were scored in a time span of 2:40 in the first half on the pitch. Forward Kenzie MacMillan was named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week following her three-goal performance last weekend, becoming the first Bronco to score three goals in the first two matches since 2019. Boise State will host BYU for its home opener in front of a sold-out crowd at Boas Soccer Complex.

COUGARS VS. BRONCOS. BYU and Boise State have met once before, with the Cougars leading the series 1-0. BYU and Boise State last met in 2019 in the first round of the NCAA tournament, with the Cougars securing the 5-1 win over the Broncos. Goals by former Cougars Cameron Tucker, SaraJayne Affleck and Elise Flake, along with a goal by current senior captain Jamie Shepherd secured the victory for the Cougars. Following their match against the Broncos in 2019, the Cougars advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals, where they fell to Stanford.