BYU shuts out LMU 2-0

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PROVO, Utah -- Two second half goals and a shutout from the Cougar defense gave the No. 25 BYU women’s soccer team a 2-0 victory over conference foe Loyola Marymount Saturday at South Field.

“It’s a huge win,” head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. “This builds a lot of momentum. We have gotten better each of our last five games since we played Baylor and I like the direction we are going right now. We have lots of players who are playing with more confidence and that is important going forward.”

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With the win, the Cougars improved to 9-4-1 and 3-1 in the West Coast Conference. The Lions lost their 11th straight game, dropping their record to 3-12-0 and 0-4 in conference.

Midfielder Cloee Colohan broke a scoreless tie in the 59th minute with her fourth goal of the season. Colohan finished a cross right in front of the goal past LMU keeper Brittany Jagger. Rachel Manning and Ashley Hatch both assisted on the goal, as Manning’s header toward the left corner was crossed by Hatch to set up Colohan.

Ella Johnson scored her second goal of the season in the 71st minute to give the Cougars a 2-0 advantage. Johnson put away a corner kick from Marissa Nimmer with a running header into the right corner of the goal.

BYU pressured LMU the whole second half with 17 shots and six corners. Manning’s header sailed just wide of the goal in the 59th minute. Manning also had a shot that was deflected by the LMU defense and hit the crossbar before being cleared by a defender.

Erica Owens had five saves in the game and was never really tested in the second half, as LMU managed just four shots and two corners in the half. 

The teams played a scoreless first half. The Cougars had 10 shots and four corner kicks in the first 45 minutes. Hatch challenged Jagger in the 20th minute, but Jagger made a lunging save to her left to preserve the scoreless tie. LMU midfielder Jocelyn Blankenship’s shot in the 15th minute forced a diving save from Owens.

The Cougars travel to the pacific northwest next weekend to take on conference rivals Gonzaga on Thursday, Oct. 24 at 4 p.m. MDT and No. 5 Portland on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 8 p.m. MDT. Saturday’s game against Portland will be streamed live on TheW.tv and is the WCC women’s soccer Game of the Week.