PROVO, Utah – An own goal by Minnesota in the 78th minute was the decider as No. 15 BYU picked up a win in front of a completely sold-out student section Thursday night.
“Sometimes the ball doesn't go, but I thought we played really well in the first half," said head coach Jennifer Rockwood. "We maybe got a little flustered and tried to force things too much in the second half. We found a way to put the ball in the back of the net, and ultimately, that's what matters."
BYU put the pressure on the Golden Gophers early, registering three shots in the first 10 minutes of the game. The Cougars would outshoot Minnesota 6-1 in the first half, three of those shots on target.
Although the Cougars dominated possession in the first half, they entered halftime knotted at 0-0 for the third time this season.
Minnesota threatened back in the second half, but defense dominated as the game stayed scoreless entering the final 15 minutes.
The BYU attack finally wore down the Gopher defense in the 78th minute, when a cross into the box bounced around before finding its way into the back of the net off the head of a Minnesota defender.
“It's a good experience for us to learn from while still getting the result we wanted against a very good team. I'm just proud of the way that we gutted it out and found a way,” said Rockwood.
With the win, BYU improves to 4-0 all-time against Minnesota and 3-1 on the season.
First Half
BYU came out hot, as both Mia Goettsche and Mika Krommenhoek got shots in the middle of the box in the first five minutes. Avery Frischknecht added a header in the eighth minute, but none of the shots found the back of the net.
The Cougs got another two shots on goal in the 12th and 13th minutes, but Minnesota's goalkeeper got hands on both of them to keep the game scoreless.
Minnesota recorded its first shot in the 35th minute, but the kick sailed wide right.
BYU smothered the ball in the first half, entering the break with 75% possession.
Second Half
In contrast to the first half, Minnesota came out of the gate putting on the pressure to start the second half.
A corner in the 46th minute caused chaos in the box, but ultimately BYU was able to clear the ball to keep the Golden Gophers off the board. Minnesota earned another corner in the 52nd minute, but once again BYU was able to clear it.
The tides turned back for BYU when Ellie Walbruch drew a yellow card on a through ball in the 56th minute. Her free kick from just outside the box hit a Minnesota defender, and the game remained 0-0.
The Cougars then fired three shots in a six-minute span between the 67th and the 73rd minute, but the game remained scoreless.
The big break for BYU came in the 78th minute, as Mattyn Summers-Oviatt put pressure on the keeper and a cross into the box was deflected off a Minnesota defender and into the goal to give the Cougars the 1-0 lead.
That goal ended up being the difference, as the Cougars held off the Minnesota attack for the final ten minutes to pick up their third win of the year.
Up Next
The Cougars continue non-conference play as Colorado State visits South Field on Thursday, Sept. 3. The game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. MST, with the game broadcast available on ESPN+.