Freshman midfielder Mia Lopez recorded her first career brace and senior Mackenzee Vance scored her first goal of the season to help secure BYU’s win.
BYU outshot Cincinnati 12-4, with five shots on goal compared to the Bearcats’ zero. The Cougars also dominated the corners, 12-3, and limited Cincinnati to just a few early chances.
Saturday’s matchup also featured Alumni Night, where the Cougars celebrated and honored returning alumni at halftime.
First Half
BYU started the game with two early shots. In her first start of the season, Halle Dixon made an immediate impact, registering two shot attempts, both blocked by the Cincinnati defense.
Following another Cougar shot attempt and a free kick awarded to the Bearcats, BYU answered with a goal by Lopez in the bottom right corner of the net in the 11th minute of the game. The goal was assisted by Presley Freeman and Vance, giving both their first assists of the season.
Just three minutes later, Lopez added another goal in the 14th minute, putting BYU up 2-0.
Another shot attempt from BYU was headed by Mia Goettsche, but it went wide. The Cougars maintained possession for much of the first half, keeping their 2-0 lead over the Bearcats.
Second Half
In the 65th minute of the match, Vance was fouled inside the 18-yard box and awarded a penalty kick, which she converted for BYU's third goal of the night.
Cincinnati had a chance in the 79th minute, but the shot was blocked by the BYU backline. BYU continued to press, with Cassidy Drago and Lucy Kesler taking shots in the 80th and 81st minutes, both saved by the Cincinnati goalkeeper. A final shot attempt by Ella Labrum in the 88th minute was blocked.
Goalkeeper Paiton Collins made a diving stop at the end of the match to maintain the shutout, earning her fifth clean sheet of the season.
Up Next
The Cougars hit the road to face the Houston Cougars on Thursday, Oct. 2, at 6 p.m. MDT, with streaming available on ESPN+.
