By Ronell Hugh
The off-season has provided the BYU women”s soccer team with an opportunity to play some quality matches against quality competition.
Last season, the Cougars had one of their best seasons in BYU history getting all the way to the Elite Eight.
Today they are in Las Vegas to take on international competition from our friends south of the border.
The Mexican Olympic National Team is one of the top teams in the world and qualified for the 16-team field Olympic tournament.
The opportunity for the Cougars to play Mexico will provide the team with a quality spring game in preparations for the team”s trip to Italy and for the 2004 season, head coach Jennifer Rockwood said.
“Mexico is one of the best teams in the world,” Rockwood said.
The Cougars were able to get this matchup because of the good rapport Rockwood has with UNLV head coach Dan Abdalla.
Abdalla invited BYU to come to Las Vegas to compete against Mexico. Abdalla had a former player who was a member of the Mexican National Team who contacted the Mexican Soccer Federation to arrange the games with UNLV and BYU.
Rockwood said she found out two months ago that BYU would probably have the chance to play the Mexican National B Team.
Over the past couple of weeks, the Mexican Olympic team qualified and then Rockwood was notified that they would be playing the actual team that would be going to the Olympics.
The Cougars will have their hands full with Mexico, but senior Aleisha Rose will be suiting up for the game.
According to Rockwood, the game will be a good opportunity for the defense.
BYU will meet the Mexican Olympic Team today at Memorial Field in Las Vegas at 7:30 p.m. (PST).
