Chambers Gardner scores late game winner for No. 5 BYU

PROVO, Utah — An 83rd minute goal from senior Sarah Chambers Gardner was the only goal of the night, as the No. 5 Cougars took a record-breaking 49 shots and earned a win over the University of San Diego 1-0 Friday night.

“It was a crazy game that you don’t see very often, but I’m proud of our girls,” BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. “Our ball movement and movement off the ball was great, and we had good opportunities near the goal. Their keeper came up with some big saves and they battled hard. But, we were on fire tonight. I really like the way we played.”

Hard work from junior Michele Murphy Vasconcelos earned the Cougars (11-1-1, 3-0-0) the 19th corner kick of the match in the 83rd minute. Madie Lyons’ cross found Sarah Chambers Gardner’s head on the far post for the only goal of the match. The goal is Chambers Gardner’s second of her career.

The Cougars set a new record for shots (49) and corner kicks (19) in the matchup. The previous records were 42 and 16, respectively. San Diego (3-9-2, 1-2-0) goalkeeper Michelle Craft broke a South Field saves record as well with 17 saves.

Goalkeeper Rachel Boaz would come up big for the Cougars in the last five minutes with two saves, including a deflection in the 85th minute off a low shot from San Diego’s Tara Meier. Boaz ended the night with three saves.

Murphy Vasconcelos led the team with eight shots, Bizzy Phillips and Nadia Gomes followed with seven, including two late shots in the 88th minute to try and increase the lead.

The Cougars had an explosive first half offensively and came out quickly, picking up a corner kick in the first minute. Taylor Campbell Isom’s shot from Lyons’s corner kick was deflected off the crossbar and saved by Craft.

BYU had 26 shots to San Diego’s single shot in the first half. Murphy Vasconcelos had five of BYU’s shots, including a give-and-go from Gomes in the 35th that required a diving save from Craft.

Phillips had four of the first half shots and Paige Hunt added three, including a dangerous shot in the 25th minute from 30 yards out that went over Craft’s hands and was kicked out by a defender

BYU also had 14 corner kicks in the first half compared to the Toreros’ one. San Diego would finish the game with two corner kicks and four shots. 

Jocelyn Loomis had six shots in her first career start and Campbell Isom added a career-high four shots for the Cougars.

BYU will face Pacific in their next matchup at home on Saturday, October 17 at 7:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on BYUtv and can be heard on the Cougar IMG Sports Network, ESPN 960 AM, BYU Radio and Sirius XM 143.