PROVO, Utah — No. 7 BYU women’s soccer (11-1-3, 3-0-3 Big 12) tied No. 7 Texas Tech in a battle of offenses on Monday evening for the Cougars’ third draw of the season and third draw in their last three game on South Field.
“When we step on South Field in front of our awesome fan base, we expect to win,” said Jennifer Rockwood, BYU head coach. “We played some really quality minutes tonight. We had opportunities in the first half that we didn’t capitalize on. We played a top-10 team in the country tonight, and Texas Tech is a very good team.”
The Cougars outshot the Red Raiders 16-8 through 90 minutes, with seven shots on goal to Texas Tech’s three. Seniors Ellie Boren and Kendell Petersen led BYU with three shots a piece on the night.
The Red Raiders continued their unbroken streak of not losing when scoring two or more goals to 20 games. Red Raider keeper Madison White has the most saves in Big 12 Conference, including four saves against the Cougars, which tied her career high.
It was the fourth consecutive sellout at South Field, with 5201 fans were in attendance.
First Half
Starting the night off fast, BYU senior Bella Folino took the first shot on goal for the Cougars in the sixth minute of play, which was knocked out by the keeper. Olivia Wade-Katoa rocketed her own shot in the in ninth minute from the top of the 18.
On a corner kick from Wade-Katoa in the 18th minute, BYU senior Jaime Shepherd tapped in the Cougars first goal of the night, outstretching her left leg to poke the ball just inside the far post. It was Shepherd’s first goal of the season. The goal also marked the first time the Red Raiders have allowed an opening goal this year.
Charging to the box, Boren went for the Cougars third shot of the night, ricocheting off of a Red Raider in the 23rd minute.
Sam Courtright responded for Texas Tech in the 39th minute, notching a shot in the top right of the net on a cross from Elise Andersen. Scoring off her right foot, Courtright tied the match 1-1.
BYU entered the half tied 1-1 for only the second time this season, the first being against Texas 1-1. The Cougars matched shots with the Red Raiders at five a piece, BYU with three on goal to Texas Techs two.
Second Half
Entering the half, Petersen took a shot outside in the 53rd minute. Boren followed up with her own to the bottom left of the net, which was saved, her second shot of the evening.
Texas Tech pushed ahead with Alex Kerr scoring on a sprint down the field in the 61st minute, scoring on a rolling shot to the back right of the net, putting the Red Raiders up 2-1.
Two minutes later, the Cougars responded with Ellie Walbruch tying the match at BYU 2-2, rocketing a shot to top left back of the net after an assist from Smith-Griffits on a cross that ping-ponged in the box.
Maintaining pressure, Erin Bailey launched a shot in 68th minute on a cross from Walbruch for the Cougars’ 13th shot of the night. Pushing back, Texas Tech launched a ball into the box that was punched out by BYU goalkeeper Savanna Mason in the 77thminute.
Gisselle Kozarski was given a yellow card for the Red Raiders in the 79th minute, setting up a free kick by Brecken Mozingo that went long. Nine minutes later, the clock was stopped on a foul by Cougar Laveni Vaka awarding Texas Tech a penalty kick which the Red Raiders failed to convert on.
Petersen found another shot just over the crossbar for BYU’s final shot of the night.
The Cougars return to South Field to face Kansas State on Monday, with coverage beginning at 5 p.m. MDT on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.