#1 BYU Defeats #2 Utah, 1-0, in MWC Championship Finals

No. 22 BYU will receive the MWC's automatic bid to next week's NCAA Tournament

Nov. 8, 2008

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -

Top-seed and No. 22 BYU (17-5-0) scored the game's lone goal early in the second half and used a strong defensive effort to claim its seventh overall Mountain West Conference Tournament title with a 1-0 win over second-seeded Utah (11-9-2) at Peter Johann Memorial Field. By virtue of the tournament championship, BYU will receive the MWC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament which begins next week.

BYU broke open the scoreless tie just minutes into the second half. Auna Janis dribbled the ball in the middle of the field and sent a pass to the foot of Katie Larkin. Larkin, both the MWC Player of the Year and this year's MWC Tournament MVP, crossed a shot from the left side of the box that sailed into the right side of the net for her 10th goal of the season in the 49th minute (48:37).

"I'm very proud of our team and how they came out and competed," said BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood. "There was a lot on the line and emotions were high. I'm proud of our seniors and how they have led the team this year, including our captains Katie (Larkin) and Jessica (Carter). Katie stepped up when we needed her and gave us the winning goal. Our defense was solid and overall it was a great day. I look forward to see who we play next week."

Following their goal, the Cougars held strong defensively, allowing just three shots total in the second half from the Utes, and just one on goal. For the game, BYU held a 19-11 edge on shots, including a 9-5 advantage on shots on goal. Corner kicks were even at three each.

McKinzie Olson earned the shutout for the Cougars, with five saves on the day. Emalee Rogers stopped eight shots in the net for the Utes.

Both teams had several scoring chances in the first half. BYU had its first scoring opportunity of the game in the 15th minute when Larkin sent a corner kick to Lauren Anderson. Anderson passed it back to Larkin, who took a hard shot from the right side of the net but Utah's Rogers was there to make the save. In the 38th minute, Utah's Lauren Dudley received a corner kick from Katy Reineke. Dudley headed the ball on goal, but Olson was there to make the save. Less than a minute later, BYU's Kassidy Christensen broke free through the defenders in the middle of the field. She took a hard shot from 15 yards out, but Rogers made a sliding save out of the goal. Anderson deflected the rebound towards the goal, but the shot went wide to preserve the 0-0 tie at the half.

The Cougars' Karen Cook provided a second scoring chance in the 67th minute of the second half. Cook sent a shot from the right corner of the field but Rogers was there to make the save. Utah had opportunities as well, as Kelly Isleib blasted a shot from 15 yards that was ultimately saved by Olson.