Hatch delivers No. 16 BYU in second overtime at Washington State, 2-1

PULLMAN, Wash. – Ashley Hatch scored two goals Friday night at Washington State, the second of which came in a second overtime period to give No. 16 BYU a 2-1 win at Lower Soccer Field.

"It was a fantastic night in an unbelievable atmosphere," BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. "I'm proud of our girls for not giving up. It was just a gutsy battle throughout, and I'm obviously happy to end up on the winning side."

BYU at Washington State Box Score

Hatch's clincher came in the second 10-minute, sudden-victory overtime. Assisted by Hermann Trophy candidate Nadia Gomes, Hatch's one-touch effort toward the right side of the six-yard box went near post past Washington State goalkeeper Ella Dederick for the win in the 105th minute.

As the visiting Cougars opened their regular season with a win, the home Cougars lost their first home opener in 11 years.

BYU went through a 77-minute scoring drought before Hatch's first strike. To their credit, BYU goalkeeper Rachel Boaz and company silenced the Washington State offense after giving up a goal halfway through the first period.

Kaitlyn Johnson put Washington State on the board in the 29th minute. From well outside the right corner of the 18-yard box, Johnson fired a shot into the top left corner of the goal. Her unassisted effort was the only first-half goal for either team.

BYU had its best opportunity for a first-half score in the fifth minute, when a foul in the box lined up Bizzy Phillips Bowen for a penalty kick. Bowen sent her shot toward the right post, where it was punched away by a diving Dederick.

Hatch's equalizer came in the 77th minute, when she uncorked an unassisted shot from about five yards outside the box that deflected off a Washington State defender's shoulder and went over Dederick's outstretched hands and in. Last season, BYU scored just one goal from outside the 18-yard box.

Neither team was able to gain an advantage for the remainder of the second half, as the game went to extra time.

Hatch took nine shots after halftime to wind up with 10 total shots. Her two goals moved her alone into ninth place on the BYU all-time scoring list with 30 career goals. She passed assistant coach Aleisha Cramer Rose (28) and Jaime Rendich Beck (29) in the record books.

The senior forward also completed a perfect record of scoring at least one goal in each season opener at BYU. As a freshman and sophomore, she scored a goal against Cal State Fullerton in back-to-back openers. As a junior, she started the season with a goal in the Cougars' first game last year against California at South Field.

Washington State broke an all-time home attendance record, with 2,632 patrons.

BYU returns to Provo to play Nebraska on South Field Monday night at 5:30 p.m. MDT. That game will be televised on BYUtv, with audio available on the Cougar IMG Network, ESPN 960 AM and BYU Radio.