Lyons' goal doesn't stand up in 2-1 loss at San Francisco

BYU vs. San Francisco Box Score

SAN FRANCISCO – No. 5 BYU women’s soccer fell to San Francisco 2-1 on Thursday night despite an early Madie Lyons goal.

Two second half goals from the Dons (10-3-3, 4-1-0) gave BYU (12-2-1, 4-1-0) eight minutes to search for an equalizer.

“They changed their formation in the second half and just really came after us,” BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. “It made us just a little too panicky and we didn’t settle down. Hopefully, it’s a really good lesson for us to learn.”

Lyons scored her first goal of the year in the 15th minute against the Dons. After an entry pass into the 6-yard box to Jocelyn Loomis, the ball bounced back to Lyons at the elbow who held off her defender and looped a ball over the keeper for the 1-0 lead.

In the first 15 minutes of the game, BYU out shot USF 4-0 and scored its goal. The rest of the way, the Dons out shot BYU 15-2 and held BYU without a shot after the goal for the next 62 minutes.

San Francisco equalized at 1-1 in the 71st minute on a penalty kick. On a free kick, it appeared a San Francisco forward was pulled down at the top of the 6-yard box. Micaela Mercado took the penalty and put it just outside the reach of goalkeeper Rachel Boaz.

The Dons' second goal came almost 10 minutes later after a slide tackle in the box by BYU, Jessica Nakae ran onto the free ball and put it in the far corner for the 2-1 lead with eight minutes remaining in the game.

BYU didn't find a goal to tie the game and suffered its second defeat of the year and first in West Coast Conference play.

Elena Medeiros led the Cougars with two shots. Nadia Gomes, Michele Murphy Vasconcelos and Bizzy Phillips each also had shots for the Cougars.

BYU stays in the Bay Area to play Santa Clara on Saturday at 1 p.m. PDT. The Broncos came from behind to defeat San Diego 2-1 on Thursday night and are part of a three-way tie for first place in the WCC. The game will be streamed on TheW.tv.