Cramer Leads Cougars In Shutout Over Utes

Provo, UT -- All-American Aleisha Cramer's goal and assist led BYU to a 3-0 shutout over the University of Utah as the Cougars clinch the MWC's regular season women's soccer title with a 5-1 record, Saturday.

Cramer's scored her ninth goal of the season on a direct kick from forty yards out with just three minutes left in the game to seal the 3-0 shutout for BYU.

The Utes end their season with a 10-6-0, 3-3-0 record. Both teams head to Las Vegas next week for the MWC Championships with BYU getting the top seed and a first round bye in the tournament.

Freshman Kim Devine got the Cougars on the board in the 29th minute of the first half with a powerful kick into the far right post after receiving a cross shot from Jeni Willardson Viernes and Lydia Ojuka.

In the second half of action it was Ojuka's header at the 59 minute mark that gave BYU a comfortable 2-0 lead. Teammates Viernes and Aleisha Cramer were credited with assist.

"We wanted to try and play our style of possession, using our wings and moving the ball from side to side, and I thought we did that very well, especially in the second half," said BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood.

"This was a total team performance tonight and I thought Kim Devine and Lydia Ojuka had their best games of the season," added coach Rockwood.

BYU outshot Utah 23 to eight in the game. This was the ninth shutout of the season for the Cougars and their fifth at home. The record 1,612 soccer fans in attendance was this year's highest at South Field.

The Cougars travel to Las Vegas on Tuesday for the MWC championships where the team hopes to clinch its third consecutive tournament crown. BYU will play its first tournament game Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

-agate- BYU-3; Utah-0

Scoring: BYU-Kim Devine, 29:49 (Lydia Ojuka, Jeni W. Viernes, assists)

BYU-Lydia Ojuka, 59:02 (Viernes, Aleisha Cramer, assists)

BYU-Aleisha Cramer, 87:14 (unassisted)

Shots: BYU-23; Utah-8

Saves: BYU-Kylee Dickson (3); Utah-Lynnsey Asay (9)