BYU soccer: 3 goals, 3 girls in Cougar shutout victory

PROVO — In the first-ever game between BYU and Loyola Marymount women's soccer at South Field, the Cougars defeated the Lions 3-0 with three goals from three different players to stay tied for second place in the West Coast Conference.

"I am really proud of the girls," BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. "We came out and played with our backs against the wall. We want to do well in conference and want to find a way to get to the NCAA tournament. We know we have to play well these last few games, and we got off to a good start tonight."

Junior Carlee Payne got BYU on the board in the 22nd minute of the game. Payne spun around her defender and shot the ball off the right post to put the Cougars up 1-0. BYU is now 19-1-1 in games when Payne scores a goal.

The next goal in the game came 48 minutes later when senior Jennie Marshall slid a shot between three Lion defenders for her fifth goal of the season. The goal gave BYU a comfortable two-point lead with 20 minutes left to play in the game.

Jaiden Thornock was the third Cougar to get on the board with an acrobatic goal in the 85th minute. The goal was Thornock’s fourth of the season.

The shutout was the fifth in 2011 for goalkeeper McKinzie Olson and the first BYU shutout since defeating Utah State 1-0 on Sept. 22 of this season. The game also marked the first time the team has scored at least three goals in back-to-back games this season.

BYU controlled the ball throughout the first half and outshot LMU 10-2 in the opening 45 minutes. The Cougars had five shots on goal in the half compared with two for the Lions.

The second half was much of the same for both teams as BYU continued to control the ball and outshoot the Lions 12-3 in the half. LMU’s best chance at a goal came in the 65th minute on a corner kick, but Payne headed the ball out before the Lions could score.

"We want to play with a sense of urgency but still have the composure to make decisions," Rockwood said. "I thought we moved the ball well tonight but still need to work on finishing. We did have three great goals tonight, so we are happy about that."

BYU will continue WCC play when it plays at San Francisco on Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. MDT. The Cougars will take on San Diego two days later on Oct. 29 in Provo at 1 p.m.