7th-ranked BYU Soccer beats 14th-ranked Kansas

7th-ranked BYU women’s soccer defeated 14th-ranked Kansas 2-0 on Thursday night in Lawrence in the Cougars’ second Top 15 win of the season.

BYU pressed the Jayhawks early, creating chances in the Kansas defensive third. Cameron Tucker had an open opportunity 1v1 with Kansas goalkeeper Sarah Peters, but shot early and put the shot well wide of the goal. The opportunity was the Cougars best of the half, has they took 9 shots, none testing Peters, as only one was placed on frame.

The Jayhawks had the best chance of the half in the 39th minute, as a pass was squared into the box to KU’s Ceri Holland, who’s one-touch shot from 8 yards was deflected wide by BYU’s Sabrina Davis.

The Cougars sprung out of the gates,and opened the scoring in the 46th minute. Tucker brought the ball down the right side, playing a pass to Elise Flake in the center of the box. A poor touch slowed Flake, but she managed to push the ball out from her feet and take a shot. A friendly deflection took the ball past KU’s Peters and into an empty net, giving the Cougars the 1-0 lead early into the second half.

Just a minute later, Mikayla Colohan won the ball in the center of the pitch and placed a low, driven shot from just outside the 18 into the lower left corner of Peters’ goal, giving the Cougars a 2-0 lead in the 47th minute.

Kansas had a chance in the 66th minute, with a shot chipped over Davis connecting with the far post and bouncing out of bounds off BYU’s Rachel Lyman. BYU faced a barrage from the Jayhawks over the final 20 minutes of the match, but the Cougars would hold onto the lead and maintain a shutout, their sixth in seven games this season. The Cougars have allowed just one goal in seven matches, that single goal coming from penalty at Mississippi State.

BYU has now won both of its Top 15 match-ups, previously beating then 12th-ranked Texas A&M. The Cougars will stay in Kansas, visiting Kansas State on Saturday in Manhattan.