Cougars Off To Connecticut For Elite 8

PROVO -- For the first time in the program's short nine-year history, the BYU women's soccer team advanced to the Elite Eight where the Cougars will face the No. 18 Connecticut Huskies in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Women's Soccer Championships.

BYU advanced to the Elite Eight after upsetting No. 15 Villanova on Saturday in the Cougars' first ever shootout finish with a 5-3 margin in penalty kicks after playing through regulation and a double overtime scoreless draw with the Wildcats.

Saturday's meeting between the 16-6-3 Cougars and the 13-5-3 Huskies will be the first for the two schools who have shared two common opponents this season, Michigan and Villanova.

The Huskies reached the quarterfinal round of the tournament after defeating Boston University in the first round, Central Connecticut in the second round and knocking off Michigan 5-0 in the Sweet 16 on Sunday.

In the NCAA tournament, the Huskies have had little trouble finding the back of the net as they have totaled nine goals in three games while allowing two in the same span.

The Cougars have yet to allow a goal in regulation or overtime through their first three rounds of the tournament, with 2-0 victories over No. 11 Colorado and Idaho State and a 5-3 shootout victory over Villanova.

BYU and the Huskies get underway on Saturday, Nov. 29 at Noon EST in Storrs, Conn., at the University of Connecticut with the winner advancing to the College Cup to face the winner of the Florida-Florida State game in the final four on Friday, Dec. 5, in North Carolina.