PROVO, Utah – Goals by Elise Flake, Lizzy Braby and Cameron Tucker led BYU to a 3-0 shutout victory over Portland at South Field Saturday night.

BYU vs. Portland Box Score

“This was a great win for us,” BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. “These games are always challenging and it’s a goal of ours to make sure we keep the momentum from our last games, and I think the girls came out strong. I’ve told them that every day now we’re playing for a championship, so we need to have that energy and that fire and that passion right from the kick-off.”

The Cougars (7-3-1, 2-0 WCC) possessed the ball throughout the first half, but went into halftime tied at 0-0, tallying 20 shots while the defense held the Pilots (8-5, 1-1 WCC) to three.

BYU came out fighting in the second half and within five minutes Rachel Bingham Lyman was able to cross the ball to the goal where the Portland keeper grabbed it out of the air and Mikayla Colohan took a shot on goal that barely went above the goal post.

Not short after, in the 55th minute, Flake took a shot on goal from an assist by Danika Bowman Serassio that soared into the upper right corner of the Portland net, which brought the score to 1-0 for the Cougars.

The Pilots instantly fought back and ran the ball down the field to cross it into the box where Sabrina Macias Davis snatched the ball from the air to give back to the BYU offense.

Braby brought the score to 2-0 in the 77th minute when she ripped a shot from the right side of the field and the ball hit the inside of the crossbar and bounced into the goal.

Three minutes later, Portland fouled Colohan, which gave her a free kick just outside the 18-yard box. Serassio took the free kick and the Portland keeper deflected it back to the players in the box, where Tucker went in for the rebound and shot the ball into the back of the net, which gave the Cougars a 3-0 advantage.

At the end of the game the Cougars outshot the Pilots 35-5.

The BYU women's soccer team will travel to San Diego on Oct. 6 where they will play the Toreros at 7 p.m. PDT. The game will be covered on the W.tv as well as on an audio broadcast on BYU Radio - Sirius XM 143 and ESPN 960 AM. 

Game Notes

• In the first half, the Cougars recorded 20 shots for a season-high number of shots in a half.
• In the last four games that Portland played (excluding BYU’s game), they only allowed one goal, which was from a penalty kick, making this one of the biggest losses of the season.
• Flake and Braby tallied a career-high of season goals. Flake scored her seventh goal and Braby scored her third.
• Serassio had a career-high two assists on the night.

PROVO, Utah – West Coast Conference action begins this week as the BYU women's soccer team hosts Gonzaga on Thursday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m. MDT and Portland on Saturday, Sept. 29, at 7 p.m. MDT.

BYU vs. Gonzaga and Portland Game Notes

WCC HISTORY. The Cougars enter WCC play with a 45-10-6 overall record since joining the conference in 2011. BYU won the conference title in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. In 2017, the Cougars tied for fourth place after tallying a 4-4-1 record.

TEAM LEADERS. Junior Elise Flake leads the team with five goals and three assists for a total of 13 points. Senior Madie Siddoway Gates and freshman Bella Folino each have 10 points after tallying four goals and two assists. Sophomore Mikayla Colohan has found the back of the net three times and assisted on three more goals for nine points. Junior Sabrina Macias Davis has played 525 minutes in goal while allowing nine goals and grabbing 19 saves.

BYU (5-3-1) vs. Gonzaga (5-2-2)

• Thursday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m. MDT, at South Field
• Video: BYUtv
• Video Talent: Spencer Linton (play-by-play) and Natalyn Lewis (analyst)
• Radio: BYU Radio (Sirius XM 143/107.9 FM) and ESPN 960 AM
• Radio Talent: Greg Wrubell (play-by-play) and Paige Barker (analyst)

WATKINS RETURNS. Former BYU women's soccer associate head coach Chris Watkins returns to South Field as the head coach of Gonzaga after taking over the Bulldogs in 2017. He has compiled a 15-10-3 record in his two seasons in Spokane, Washington. 

THE BULLDOGS. Gonzaga is looking to continue its shutout streak after going three-consecutive games without allowing a goal. In non-conference play, the Bulldogs picked up wins against Grand Canyon, Oregon State, Cal Poly, Colorado State and Seattle. India Jencks leads the offense with four goals and one assist, while six other players have found the back of the net for a total of 11 goals. 

SERIES INFORMATION. The Cougars are undefeated in the series, earning 10 total wins. The last matchup was in 2017 when BYU went on to take a 6-3 win over Gonzaga at Luger Field. 

BYU (5-3-1) vs. Portland (7-4-0)

• Saturday, Sept. 29, at 7 p.m. MDT, at South Field
• Video: TheW.tv
• Radio: ESPN 960 AM and 107.9 FM
• Radio and TheW.tv Talent: Jason Shepherd (play-by-play) and Paige Barker (analyst)

THE PILOTS. Under the direction of new head coach Michelle French, the Pilots have won three-straight games after beating Seattle in overtime. Portland is led by Taryn Ries with six goals and two assists. Kimberly Hazlett has added three goals and three assists. Goalkeeper Rachel Lusby was this week's WCC Player of the Week after recording back-to-back shutouts. 

SERIES INFORMATION. BYU leads 8-4 after beating the Pilots 1-0 in 2017 when Flake found the back of the net in the 68th minute in Portland.