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POCATELLO, Idaho - With Brigham Young ahead 1-0 after an early goal, freshman
Allyssa Kenney scored the equalizer 12:45 seconds later, for her first career goal, to put the Cougars on their toes. Ranked No. 21 in the nation by topdrawersoccer.com, Brigham Young's top talent prevailed 3-1 at the final whistle's blow. Idaho State (3-1-0) recorded its first loss of the season while BYU improved to 2-1-1 on the year.
"There is no question why they are ranked 21st in the country, they are," said Head Coach Gibson. "I told the girls after the game you are becoming a great team but they are a great program that produces great teams. We're not there yet but we were there at some points in the game. We fought hard. Every year BYU does well and in the six years I've been here this is the closest we've been with them."
A close contest, ISU was only out-shot 22-to-17 and were edged out only 10-to-6 in on goal shots. However, corner kicks tipped into BYU's favor 6-to-2.
Cougar Jennie Marshall was the first player on the scoreboard lofting the ball over ISU keeper
Carly Hutchings-Maloney's head 20 yards out just 3:49 into the contest. Dana Oldroyd was credited with the assist.
BYU was not ahead for long as freshman midfielder Kenney took the que and buried a deep 40 yard longshot over BYU keeper McKinzie Olson's head.
"That kid has the left foot of someone who could be world class," said Gibson of Kenney's left-footed goal. "It's unbelievable."
ISU was not able to hold onto the tie for long as Cougar Colette Jepson scored a late first period goal to give BYU a 2-1 edge at the end of the first half. Jepson was served up a long ball by teammate Carlee Payne up the middle which Jepson drove on a 1 v. 1 situation with keeper Hutchings-Maloney before scoring the goal 15 yards out at the 44:19 mark.
"When we pressured BYU they struggled but unfortunately we weren't able to sustain that for 90 minutes," said Gibson.
In the second half, Idaho State fought aggresively but was unable to pressure offensively on the pitch. With 16:41 remaining in the contest Jepseon got her foot on a jumbled ball in the ISU box to score her second goal of the game and of the season.
Idaho State posted five shots to BYU's three in the remaining minutes but could not find the back of the net. Freshman
Amanda Ellsworth posted a game-high five shots. BYU's Jepson had four shots during the game with a game-high three on goal and two goals.
Bengals keeper Hutchings-Maloney recorded seven saves, five in the second period alone, while BYU keeper Olson recorded five saves.
"A game like this if you can squeek out a win it's huge, obviously that was our intention to begin with but I think when all is said and done and you're not going to get the win it's about how we played. We built so much confidence in the first half the way we played them. Going down early and coming back with the equalizer and playing them toe-to-toe that whole first half was incredible," said Gibson.
Idaho State travels to Moscow, Idaho on Thursday to play in the 14th annual Governor's Cup hosted by the University of Idaho. The Bengals play Idaho on Friday, Sept. 2 at 5:30 p.m. at Guy Wicks Field. ISU finishes Governor's Cup play against Boise State on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 12 p.m. at Guy Wicks Field.
