Three assists from Gardner leads No. 13 BYU to 4-1 victory

BYU vs. Saint Mary's Box Score

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PROVO, Utah — In its last home game of the regular season, No. 13 BYU women’s soccer kept its now 17-game home win streak alive, beating Saint Mary’s 4–1 on Senior Day, Saturday, behind stellar offensive production.

“It’s just so fun to work with these girls. They have worked and trained so hard all year,“ BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. “We are very proud of going 7-1-1 in the WCC. Tonight, we came out and competed, and we continue to get better each game. I’m really pleased with our offense and that we were able to score four goals for the first time this season. I love the way we are playing right now.”

It was all offense for BYU (15-2-2, 7-1-1) from the beginning as they scored three goals in the first 31 minutes. The Cougars struck first in the 11th minute on a Madie Lyons shot off a slotted pass from Jocelyn Loomis. The goal was Lyons second of the season and the assist was Vasconcelos’ fourth of the year.

Sixteen minutes later, Sarah Chambers Gardner freed Lyons to find Nadia Gomes’ feet for Gomes’ eighth goal of the year. With the goal, BYU went up 2-0 with Lyons recording her fifth assist of season, and Gardner getting credit for her first assist of the year.

Shortly after Gomes’ first goal, she found the back of the net again in the 31st minute, putting the Cougars up 3-0. Gardner dribbled the ball up the right side of the field crossing the ball into the six for a Gomes header and her ninth goal of the year. Gomes' two goals made for her second straight two-goal game. The assist was Gardner’s second on the season.

In the second half, the Cougar offense stayed strong recording 11 shots on goal in the last 45 minutes. The BYU defense let in a goal in the 73rd minute allowing a deep shot from Madison Salom. Salom’s goal put the Gaels on the board for the first goal scored at South Field this season.

Less than two minutes later in the 74th minute, Gardner tallied her third assist of the match finding Lyons for her second goal of the game. The final score put the Cougars up 4-1. Gardner is now tied for second place for assists in a game at BYU with three. It was the first time since 2003 where a BYU player had three assists in a game.

With the win, BYU holds onto the longest home game win streak in the nation with 17 games won in a row. BYU recorded 31 shots to Saint Mary’s 14. Returning from injury, junior forward Ashley Hatch recorded a game-high six shots in 34 minutes. Gomes also tied for a game-high six shots, with four on goal.

All three seniors, Sarah Chambers Gardner, Camille Green Heath and Marissa Nimmer Linehan took the field Saturday. 

BYU now awaits the NCAA selection show, which will be held Monday, Nov. 9 at 2:30 p.m. MT. The show will be streamed on NCAA.com.