PROVO, Utah - The BYU Cougars used two second half in a two-minute span to earn a 3-1 victory over the Penn State women's soccer team on Saturday night at South Field. The Nittany Lions trailed 1-0 in the first half, but freshman Mallory Weber (Novi, Michigan) tied it up heading into halftime. However, the Cougars scored two quick goals in the second half to seal the victory.
BYU dominated the first ten minutes of action and applied pressure immediately just two minutes into the game. The Cougars had a clean look at the net off a cross and had a corner kick in the first two minutes of action. Jess Ringwood then had an opportunity right in front of the net and hit it just to the left.
Nevertheless, Ringwood would capitalize in the 14th minute. Jaiden Thornock played a beautiful ball into the middle from the right side of the field. Ringwood one-timed it beautifully with her left foot to knock it by McNulty. The Cougars had a 1-0 lead but the Nittany Lions would answer soon after.
In the 21st minute, the Nittany Lions had their best opportunity yet. Senior Christine Nairn (Arnold, Md.) received the ball near the top of the 18, spun to her left and struck one with her left foot. Nairn had a solid look on net but the ball sailed just to the left. That pressure would lead to Weber's goal. The speedy Weber garnered the ball at the top of the 18 and broke away from the defender and snuck it by BYU keeper Erica Owens to tie the game up at one.
Penn State had an unbelievable opportunity near the end of the first half to take the lead. Owens made an incredible save on sophomore Kindrah Kohne's shot. Senior Tani Costa (Honolulu, Hawaii) found the wide open Kohne who struck it to the right side. The ball deflected off Owens hands and bounced off the post.
Just ten minutes into the second half, BYU retook the lead. Ringwood scored her second goal of the game, with the assist coming from Carlee Payne Holmoe. Just moments later, Payne Holmoe earned another assist, this time sending one off the head of Michelle Murphy to give the Cougars a 3-1 advantage.
Penn State will have eight days off before returning to Jeffrey Field next Sunday, as the Nittany Lions will take on 15th-ranked Wisconsin on Alumni Weekend.
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