PROVO, Utah - The BYU women's soccer team upset No. 11 Long Beach State 1-0 in its 2012 home opener, Thursday, on a goal by senior Carlee Payne Holmoe.

“This was a solid performance by our entire team,” head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. “We came and battled hard, stayed focused and our attacking group created great opportunites all game. I am really happy for Carlee, she practices those penalty kicks every day.”

This was the first victory against a ranked opponent since beating No. 14 Northwestern in 2010.

The goal by Holmoe was her first of the season and came with just nine minutes left in the second half on a penalty kick. The goal was set up by Niki Fernandes who was fouled in the box.

In a back and forth first half, the 49ers were held scoreless through the first 45 minutes for just the second time this season. This is the first time this year that the Cougars have been tied with their opponent at halftime.

Aggressive play led to nine Cougar shots and two corner kicks in the first half while the 49ers were held to just one shot and one corner kick.

"Our defense did a great job of shutting down their forwards," Rockwood said. "Lindsi (Lisonbee Cutshall) has always been a strong presence for us in the back and tonight it really showed."

BYU's defense, anchored by Hermann Trophy Candidate Cutshall, held Long Beach State's attack to just four total shots in the game and its leading scorer, Nadia Link, to only one shot. Link is also a Hermann Trophy Candidate. 

The pace picked up in the second half with the Cougars creating a couple of early scoring chances and finishing with 11 more shots for a total of 20. This is BYU's second-straight game with 20, or more, shots. 

The Cougars continue soccer action at home hosting Colorado College on Saturday at 7 p.m.  The game will be broadcast live on BYUtv and will be the first of six women's soccer game of the 2012 season.

Fans can watch the game live on TV or online for free at byutvsports.com/gameday. Live stats are also available through the BYU women's soccer schedule page. 

The game can also be followed on the BYU women's soccer Twitter page. 

Order your tickets for the game and the rest of the season online now.

The attendance for the game was 1,872.

PROVO, Utah - The BYU women's soccer team hosts No. 11 Long Beach State on Thursday, Aug. 30, at 6 p.m. MT in their 2012 home opener and Colorado College on Saturday, Sept. 1, at 7 p.m. MT.

The Cougars are now 2-1 on the season after splitting last weekend on the road with a win over Arizona and loss at Utah. BYU has recorded double-digit shots in two of its last three games. 

Sophomore Jaiden Thornock leads the squad with seven shots and two goals on the year. Seniors Carlee Payne Holmoe and Lindsi Lisonbee Cutshall follow closesly with five shots apiece and 12 other BYU players have recorded at least one shot this year.

Junior goalkeeper Erica Owens has already logged 278 minutes in front of the net and made 13 saves.

Opponents
Long Beach State comes to Provo with a 3-0 record this season. The 49ers's 2010 season included winning 14 games, the Big West tournament title, and a trip to the NCAA tournament. In 2011  the team posted another successful season, highlighted by winning five-straight games for its second-straight Big West crown and an impressive run to the NCAA tournament Elite Eight. 

Senior Nadia Link returns as Long Beach State's leading scorer from last year with 16 goals and 78 shots in the 2011 season. Link is on the 2012 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List and currently leads her team with five shots.

The 49ers are ranked No. 22 in this week’s Soccer TImes poll, No. 14 in College Sports Madness and No. 11 in the NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA poll. 

BYU leads the overall series against the 49ers with a 3-1 record.

Colorado College (CC) will play at Utah before coming to Provo on Saturday, Sept. 1. The Tigers currently hold a 1-0-2 record after tying their last two outings. CC returns four of its five top goal scorers in Kaeli Vandersluis, Brittney Lyman, Jessie Ayers and Madison Whitehead. 

Lyman is a 2011 Second Team All-C-USA selection and Ayers is the reigning C-USA Midfielder and Freshman of the Year. The Tigers' last NCAA tournament appearance was in 2006 when the team went 15-6-1. In 2010 and 2011 the team finished second in their league.

Colorado College and BYU have met just once before, in 1995, when the Tigers came away with the victory. 

How to Follow
Live stats are available for Thursday's game against Long Beach State through the BYU women's soccer schedule page. 

BYUtv will broadcast its first, of six, women's soccer game of the 2012 season on Saturday against Colorado College. Fans can watch the game live on TV or online for free at byutvsports.com/gameday. Live stats are also available through the BYU women's soccer schedule page. 

Both games can also be followed on the BYU women's soccer Twitter page. 

Order your tickets for this week's games and the rest of the season online now.