BYU women's soccer team shuts out Gauchos

PALO ALTO, Calif. — A shutout win over UC Santa Barbara sends the No. 8 BYU Cougars to the second round of the NCAA Women's Soccer College Cup.

BYU's first goal came just 12 minutes into the game after freshman Carlee Payne took the ball down the field past two Gaucho defenders. Payne's sliding touch of the ball deflected off one of the Gaucho defenders and rolled into the net.

The Cougars maintained their offensive pressure for the majority of the game. Freshman Jessica Ringwood took the first shot for BYU with a chip that went just inches from the right post, forcing the Gaucho goalie to make her first save of many against an attacking Cougar offense.

Senior Alyssa Vander Veur recorded her third goal of the season after a pass from sophomore Jennie Marshall got the ball to Vander Veur at the top of the box. Vander Veur sent a bullet straight past three defenders and the Gaucho goalie to put the Cougars up 2-0 going into the half.

The Cougars next face the winner of the Stanford-Northern Arizona match on Saturday at 2 p.m. MT.