With three goals from three different players, the BYU women’s soccer team added another win to its successful season, grasping the first place standing in the West Coast Conference.
Junior forward Carlee Payne, senior forward Jennie Marshall and freshman forward Jaiden Thornock each scored a goal, helping BYU beat Loyola Marymount 3-0 on Thursday.
Head coach Jennifer Rockwood said she was excited about the win and very pleased with the way the team played.
[/media-credit]“I am real proud of the girls,” Rockwood said. “We want to find a way to get to the NCAA tournament, so we know we have to play our very best these next few games and they came out and really got off to a great start.”
BYU saw its first goal 25 minutes into the game when Payne spun around her defender and fired a shot that hit the post before bouncing into the back of the Lions’ net.
The Cougars played a strong first half, going into halftime up one goal after outshooting the Lions 10-2.
Thirty minutes into the second half, Marshall sent the ball past multiple defenders and into the net, giving BYU a 2-0 lead.
Loyola Marymount came close to lessening the score gap on a corner kick that was just inches from going in. Luckily, Payne was there to quickly clear the ball out of the box with a header.
Rockwood was grateful for the save and gave credit to Payne for her effort.
“It’s a good thing Carlee was back there,” Rockwood said. “Carlee is a smart player. That is what is interesting in our sport — the game can change with one shot no matter how much you keep the ball.”
BYU continued pressuring Loyola Marymount until the final minutes of the game, and the pressure paid off with one more goal.
Thornock scored the Cougars third and final goal with five minutes remaining.
Rockwood said Thornock has had an impressive season.
“Jaiden has done a great job for us,” Rockwood said. “She is one of our lead goal scorers right now and had a fantastic goal tonight. She is going to have a great future for us.”
Although Thornock said she was excited about her goal, she was also humble about her experience playing as a freshman.
“I feel really honored to get some minutes as a freshman — I feel really lucky,” Thornock said.
With this 3-0 win against Loyola Marymount, Payne said BYU is excited and confident as they continue WCC play.
“Our team has really clicked lately, and we are finally playing the way we know how to play,” Payne said. “It’s exciting, and I think we are playing well and working hard. We want to win and go as far as we can this season.”
