The No. 2 BYU women’s soccer team will play in its first NCAA tournament game on Saturday against Utah State at 2 p.m. MST.
BYU is 10-0-1 at home this season and is looking to beat its biggest run in the NCAA tournament, where the team reached the Elite Eight in 2003. Round one starts Friday, and here are ten reasons why fans should go to the game.
1. The women’s soccer team became the first women’s team in school history to earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. It also earned its highest ranking of the season at No. 2 and is one of only four teams in the top-25 to have only one loss on its record.
2. South Field is one of the premier places for college soccer in the country. The team had a record crowd of 4,922 to help it defeat No. 6 Penn State on Sep. 8 and is hoping to break that record on Saturday.
3. The east-side bleachers are the best place to sit for any BYU sporting event. The bleachers are on the field, and fans can feel like they’re part of the game action.
4. The Cougars won the West Coast Conference championship this year and highlighted a number of other WCC awards, including Coach of the Year, Player of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year and Freshman of the Year.
5. The team scored 32 goals at home this season. That’s an average of 2.9 goals a game, so a lot of action can be expected at the net this weekend. WCC Freshman of the Year Michele Murphy and senior Jessica Ringwood led the team in goals with eight each. “It’s probably the best attacking team that I’ve coached while here at BYU,” BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood said in an interview with the Deseret News.
6. On the defensive side of the ball, WCC Goalkeeper of the Year Erica Owens is pretty good at keeping opponents out of the goal for BYU. Her goals-against average, save percentage and total shutouts are first in the WCC.
7. BYU is led by WCC Player of the Year Lindsi Lisonbee Cutshall. Cutshall anchors the defensive side of the ball and has helped BYU hold opponents to only 7.7 shots a game and only 10 goals. She is also an All-American and has been named a finalist for the 2012 Senior Class Award.
8. BYU missed out on the NCAA tournament last year for the first time in six years. The Cougars are definitely hungry for a victory.
9. The Cougars are at a perfect 10-0 all-time against Utah State, and they hope to add one more win to that record on Friday.
10. All Sports Pass Holders can get into the event for only $2 and will get free hot chocolate.
BYU will play Saturday at 2 p.m. MST for a chance to make it to Round 2 of the NCAA Tournament and another home game.
