The Cougars held on to defeat Kansas 3-2 on Monday for the team’s second win of the season.
“It’s a big day for us, getting our first win at South Field, “ said BYU coach Jennifer Rockwood. “We got 21 shots off today; that’s more like BYU soccer, especially here at home.”
In spite of a shocking goal in the third minute by Kansas, BYU was able to come out on top with two goals from Nadia Gomes and one from Cameron Tucker.
The Jayhawks’ first goal came off a long strike well outside the penalty area by Eva Eliasdottir. Hannah Clark wasn’t able to stop it as it sailed right over her and into the corner of the goal.
BYU goalkeeper Hannah Clark wasn’t able to stop the shot as it sailed over her and into the corner of the goal.
The Cougars’ had gone down early several times in previous matches, motivating coach Rockwood to write, “Just focus on the first 45 minutes” on the whiteboard in the team’s pregame meeting.
Nadia Gomes took this to heart, scoring two goals for her team to put them back on top before halftime.
The first came in the 29th minute, as Gomes dribbled alone up the attacking side of the field, and blasted a left-footed shot into the far corner of the goal. She then converted a penalty kick in the 42nd minute after Madie Lyons Mathews went down in the box.
She then converted a penalty kick in the 42nd minute after Madie Lyons Mathews was taken down in the penalty box.
The Cougars remained firmly in the driver’s seat well into the second half, with a goal by Cameron Tucker in the 65th minute, and a plethora of shots that easily could have found the back of the net.
In the 74th minute, the referee gave a red card to the Kansas coach Mark Francis for arguing with a call. This seemed to light a fire under the Jayhawks, however, as they moved into the attacking side and eventually found a second goal in the 86th minute.
Hannah Clark seemed to catch the ball in the box, but let it slip out and into the feet of Grace Hagan, who easily put into the wide-open goal.
The Jayhawks continued with a few last-ditch efforts in the final minutes, but the Cougars were able to stay composed and hang on for the victory.
“I was pumped,” said Nadia Gomes of the team’s first home win. “It’s just going to keep coming.”
With the win, BYU improves to 2-4-3 this season and will take on crosstown rival UVU this Friday at 7 p.m. at South Field in the Cougars’ final non-conference game.
