14th-ranked BYU Soccer throttles Southern Utah in home opener

14th ranked BYU women’s soccer hosted Southern Utah in their season opener at South Field and beat the Thunderbirds by a score of 7-0.

The Cougars immediately pressed SUU and fired off several shots. Thunderbird goalkeeper Brianna Aldridge held the Cougars at bay, recording several saves and intercepting early crosses from the Cougars.

However, the Cougars pressure finally opened the scoring with a goal from Josie Guinn in the 19th minute. Guinn took the ball on the left side of the field before splitting two SUU defenders and poking the ball past Aldridge.

The onslaught would continue from the Cougars, and sophomore midfielder Ashton Brockbank would connect on the end of a cross to head the Cougars to a 2-0 lead in the 44th minute.

The Cougars continued to dominate, opening the second half with a goal in the 50th minute. A cross from Rachel Bingham on the right flank cleared the fingertips of Aldridge, and senior Elise Flake connected on the end to give the Cougars a 3-0 lead.

Ten minutes later in the 60th minute, it was Flake again, cutting in from the left side to hit a low strike to the bottom right corner. The goal wasn’t the end though, as Lizzy Braby found the left side of the net from 25 yards out to extend the Cougar lead to 5-0. In the 84th minute senior Ella Ballstaedt would add a sixth goal, and Brockbank would add her second in the 88th to give the Cougars the 7-0 win.

The Thunderbirds never threatened the Cougars in the match. SUU came out in a 5-3-2 formation, with their intentions clearly to sit behind the ball and try to beat the Cougars on the counter. BYU defenders Alyssa Jefferson and Danika Serassio prevented any Thunderbird counters and played the ball back into dangerous positions in the Thunderbirds half. The Thunderbirds didn't record a single shot all game, while the Cougars tallied 28 shots.

The Cougars looked impressive from start to finish. Braces from Flake and Brockbank led the Cougars, while goalkeepers Sabrina Davis and Cassidy Smith split an uneventful evening with a shutout, thanks in part to the dominance of Jefferson and Serassio on the back line.

The win gives the 14th ranked Cougars a 3-0 record on the season. They will return to South Field on Friday to face Utah. The Cougars beat the Utes last year in a thrilling 3-2 match in Salt Lake City, and will look to continue their dominance over the Utes in the rivalry.