PROVO, Utah - Despite outshooting Wyoming 15-13, the BYU women’s soccer team fell to the Cowgirls, 1-0 on South Field Friday evening.
The match proved to be aggressive, with Wyoming being awarded two yellow cards and 14 fouls to BYU’s three fouls.
The Cougars outshot the Cowgirls 15-13 with nine on goal to Wyoming’s four on goal. BYU saw nine corner kicks to Wyoming’s five.
First Half
Caroline Stringfellow gave the Cougars their best chance on goal in the 33rd minute, sending a through-ball past the backline as Mattyn Summers took a shot, saved by Wyoming’s goalkeeper.
Just two minutes later, the Cowgirls took the lead with a tap-in goal by Gabby Clutter.
BYU matched Wyoming in total shots through the first half, as both teams saw eight apiece. The Cougars had six shots on goal to the Cowgirls’ two, forcing Wyoming’s goalkeeper to make six saves compared to BYU’s two saves.
Second Half
The Cougars’ defense proved strong in the first three minutes of the second half with back-to-back saves by keeper Lynette Hernaez.
BYU saw another flash of offensive play in the 70th minute with Halle Dixon breaking through the Cowgirls’ back line, sending a cross into the box. The ball bounced out to freshman Presley Freeman who took a shot right outside the 18, high and wide.
The Cowgirls received a yellow card in the 77th minute, which the Cougars nearly capitalized on with a free kick taken by Josie Shepherd, missing just outside the right post. Back-to-back corner kicks for BYU followed before the ball was cleared by Wyoming.
The Cowgirls continued to apply pressure to BYU’s backline, firing off a pair of shots in the 83rd minute before BYU’s Stringfellow had two shots of her own, forcing two more saves by the Wyoming keeper.
Despite a final push by the Cougar offense, Wyoming was able to hold them off and take home the 1-0 win.
The Cougars will face the Wisconsin Badgers in the first match of the 2024 regular season Thursday, Aug. 15 on South Field. The match will begin at 7 p.m. MDT and will be broadcast on ESPN+.