No. 13 BYU women’s soccer ties Arkansas 3-3 after long battle

No. 13 BYU women’s soccer tied their fourth straight home game at South Field against the Arkansas Razorbacks 3-3. 

Arkansas went into this match with a four-game win streak that the Cougars ended after fighting all night long, with both teams playing at a fast pace that continued throughout the game.

Arkansas scored the first goal of the night in the 11th minute with a one-touch score by Jessica De Filippo, marking the first time BYU has conceded the first goal all season.

The Cougars were quick to follow up the Razorback goal with their own score in the 15th minute to tie up the game 1-1. Rachel McCarthy assisted Brecken Mozingo, who scored with a left-footed laser proving she’s an expert from distance. 

Just three minutes later, Arkansas was quick to take the lead again in the 18th minute as Shana Flynn took a shot that was deflected off of Anna Podojil’s back, looping over and under the crossbar and over the hands of Savanna Mason changing the score to 2-1.

Not letting the Razorbacks take the lead for long, Bella Folino of BYU found the back of the net as Brecken Mozingo crossed and Folino was able to finish in the 21st minute, tying up the game 2-2 and following BYU’s theme of equalizing. 

BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood was quick to realize Mozingo’s success. “Brecken’s doing fantastic she’s an exciting player to watch.”

In the 36th minute, Sierra Pennock was able to finish the cross from Jamie Shepherd to get her second career goal, allowing BYU to take the lead for the first time at 3-2.

With a neck and neck first half, it’s no surprise that the trend continued into the second as well. Both teams had shots on shots as BYU continued the second half with a shooter’s mentality entering into the 71st minute with 18 shots total and Arkansas trailing far behind at 6. 

The fight continued as the Cougars held a one-point lead for 50 minutes, but the Razorbacks were able to get their third goal of the night in the 83rd minute. Ellie Podojil took a shot from the top of the penalty area for a 15-yard shot squaring the game up yet again.

With just seven minutes left in the game, both teams fought hard til the very end to score the final goal and win the game, but neither team was successful as the game ended 3-3. 

“Something we are trying to work on as a team is closing out the game,” BYU midfielder Olivia Wade said. “We are still working hard together to get to where we want to be.”

BYU will face Utah Valley University next at South Field on Saturday.