SALT LAKE -- As it has all season, the No. 24 BYU Cougars found answers from both veteran and young players in its 2-1 victory over No. 24 Utah in Salt Lake Saturday afternoon. With the win, BYU (14-5-0, 6-0-0) wins the Mountain West Conference regular-season title for the fourth-consecutive year and extends its winning streak to 11 games.
"Today was a very physical game," said BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood. "It always is when we play Utah."
Senior forward Jeni Willardson-Viernes put BYU up 2-0, scoring her sixth game-winning goal of the season in the 64th minute on a pass from junior All-American Aleisha Cramer-Rose. Cramer-Rose delivered a low pass from thirty yards out on a free kick to Viernes who one-timed it past Ute keeper Courtney Hills-McBeth to notch her 11th goal of the season.
BYU's defense kept Utah (11-2-3, 4-1-1) out of the goal for the entire game until a penalty kick by Ute forward Shauna Gurr-Bingham found the back of the net with 18 seconds remaining in the match, making the score 2-1. Utah threatened again moments later on a deep run but came up short as Cougar keeper Mandy Gott gathered the wide shot and allowed time to expire.
The Cougars first goal of the game came in the 41st minute on a header by sophomore forward/midfielder Kimmie Davis. The Torrance, Calif., native headed a feed from freshman forward/midfielder Jamie Rendich into the left side of the net past Hills-McBeth to score her second goal of the season.
"Kimmie Davis had a huge goal for us," Rockwood said.
With one minute remaining in the first half, freshman midfielder/defender Charlene Lui went down with a moderate ankle sprain. The injury will be evaluated further when BYU returns to Provo.
As regular-season champions, BYU receives a first-round bye in the MWC tournament. The Cougars first tournament game will be Thursday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. in Provo.
By virtue of winning last year's MWC title, BYU is hosting this year's MWC tournament which begins Wednesday, Nov. 6. Tickets can be purchased at the South Field gate or by calling (801) 378-BYU1. Prices for all-tournament passes are $15 for adults and $8 for seniors, students and children under 12. Single-game tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for seniors, students and children under 12.
Soccer Box Score (Final)The Automated ScoreBook For Soccer
Brigham Young vs Utah (Nov 02, 2002 at Salt Lake City)
Brigham Young (14-5-0, 6-0-0 MWC) vs. Goals by period 1 2 Tot
Utah (11-2-3, 4-1-1 MWC) -------------------------------
Date: Nov 02, 2002 Attendance: 2473 Brigham Young....... 1 1 - 2
Weather: cool, 37 degrees Utah................ 0 1 - 1
Brigham Young Utah
Pos ## Player Sh G A Pos ## Player Sh G A
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
GK 30 GOTT, Mandy......... - - - GK 1 HILLS-MCBETH Courtne - - -
8 BIGELOW, Terra...... - - - D 8 MAXWELL, Megan...... 2 - 1
10 OLMSTEAD, Farrah.... - - - MF 10 BENEGAS, Bobbie..... 2 - -
13 HOECHERL, Annie..... - - - F 11 GURR-BINGHAM, Shauna 4 1 -
14 FIELDING, Jennifer.. 1 - - D 12 HARPER, Maren....... - - -
15 BOWMAN, Brooke...... 2 - - D 13 WILLIAMS, Jen....... - - -
16 LUI, Charlene....... - - - D 18 STRATTON, Tracy..... - - -
17 CRAMER ROSE, Aleisha 1 - 1 M 19 WILHELM-CARTER, Heat 5 - -
18 VIERNES, Jeni....... 4 1 - F 22 TATE, Katie......... - - -
19 HOLMAN, Britney..... - - - MF 24 BATTAZZO, Katie..... - - -
20 OJUKA, Lydia........ - - - M 33 BROWER, Amber....... 2 - -
---------- Substitutes ---------- ---------- Substitutes ----------
2 THULIN, Brooke...... - - - 4 DENNIS, Missy....... 2 - -
3 DAVIS, Kimmie....... 1 1 - 6 HERDIC, Julie....... - - -
4 KING, Davia......... 2 - - 16 IMOTAN, Esther...... - - -
9 CAMPBELL, Krissa.... 4 - - 23 FIELD, Lauren....... 1 - -
11 RENDICH, Jamie...... - - 1
Totals.............. 18 1 1
Totals.............. 15 2 2
Brigham Young Utah
## Player MIN GA Saves ## Player MIN GA Saves
--------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
30 GOTT, Mandy......... 90:00 1 5 1 HILLS-MCBETH Courtne 90:00 2 8
Shots by period 1 2 Tot Saves by period 1 2 Tot
------------------------------- -------------------------------
Brigham Young....... 5 10 - 15 Brigham Young....... 2 3 - 5
Utah................ 6 12 - 18 Utah................ 3 5 - 8
Corner kicks 1 2 Tot Fouls 1 2 Tot
------------------------------- -------------------------------
Brigham Young....... 1 1 - 2 Brigham Young....... 9 9 - 18
Utah................ 2 4 - 6 Utah................ 8 7 - 15
SCORING SUMMARY:
GOAL Time Team ## Goal Scorer Assists
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. 41:24 BY 3 DAVIS, Kimmie 11 RENDICH, Jamie
Header into the left-right corner.
2. 64:37 BY 18 VIERNES, Jeni 17 CRAMER ROSE, Aleisha
10-yard blast to right corner
3. 89:42 UT 11 GURR-BINGHAM, Shauna 8 MAXWELL, Megan
Off pentalty kick.
CAUTIONS AND EJECTIONS:
YC-UT #12 (64:36); YC-BY #2 (84:46)
Officials: Referee: Tim Cohen; Asst. Referee: Steve Yeates; David James;
Alt. Official: Bill Marsh; Scorer: Jesse Christensen;
Offsides: Brigham Young 0, Utah 1.
