BYU Women’s Soccer Advances to Elite Eight with 3-1 Win over Michigan State
BYU’s offense came alive in the second half of its Sweet 16 match with fifth-seed Michigan State Saturday night at South Field, as the Cougars picked up a 3-1 victory over the Spartans. The No. 1 seeded Cougars scored all three goals after intermission, propelling them into the Elite Eight.
“I’m proud of the way we battled,” BYU coach Jennifer Rockwood said. “It wasn’t an easy game for us. We were out of our comfort zone a little bit because of Michigan State’s pressure and their ability to move the ball, but the girls, I thought, stuck with it.”
After BYU scored 11 goals in its three contests leading up to the NCAA tournament, the nation’s No. 1 goal scoring offense had slowed down a bit. The Cougars had used a pair of shutouts and just three goals in the first two rounds to advance to the Sweet 16.
Michigan State drew first blood, getting a 1-0 lead in the 52nd minute on a right-footed dart from senior midfielder Gabby Mueller. BYU evened the match just minutes later on senior forward Brecken Mozingo’s penalty kick in the 55th minute. Mozingo then scored her second goal of the night in the 60th minute, getting BYU on top with a steal and a shot from the top of the box.
The Cougars’ third goal came from reserve sophomore forward Ellie Walbruch, who headed in a Mozingo corner kick in the 80th minute. From there, BYU held on for the two-score victory, giving the Cougars their fifth all-time Elite Eight appearance, with three of those now coming in the last five seasons.
BYU awaits a familiar foe in the Elite Eight, no matter the result between No. 3 seed North Carolina and No. 2 seed Texas Tech. BYU will face the victor Friday at 6 p.m. with a berth in the national semifinals on the line.