Madie Lyons Mathews dribbles against Utah. Mathews scored the Cougars' equalizer against Arizona on Friday. (Savannah Hopkinson)
Arizona scored a golden goal less than two minutes into extra time to send the Cougars home with a 2-1 loss on Friday night.
The Cougars looked to keep the momentum from their 3-0 statement win over Oregon State on Monday but weren’t able to get anything going early against the Wildcats.
Hannah Clark came up big once again for the defense, with critical saves in the seventh and 28th minutes.
Arizona found its first goal of the night in 32nd minute off a dangerous corner kick. Clark initially swatted the ball away, but Arizona’s Charlotte Brascia was able to get a foot on it and deflect it into the goal.
BYU got a pair of corner kicks and shots early on, but weren't able to get anything on frame. Arizona finished the half as the aggressors, outshooting the Cougars 5-2.
Beginning in the 49th minute, however, BYU got off five shots in a row, amping up the offense and chipping away at the Arizona defense.
The breakthrough finally came in the 73rd minute from Madie Lyons-Mathews, less than two minutes after she was subbed in. It was her second goal in as many games.
Nadia Gomes was once again a force on offense, assisting on the lone goal, and leading the team in total shots with four.
Both teams fought hard but couldn't find the back of the net again before the end of regulation.
Arizona came out firing in overtime, however, and just two minutes into the first overtime period, Amanda Porter put the game away for the Wildcats.
This marks the end of the Cougars’ five game stretch against Pac-12 teams, as they return home to face Kansas on Monday at 1 p.m. MDT at South Field. The game will be broadcast live on BYUtv, BYU Radio and ESPN 960.