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Campbell Sends BYU to Sweet 16
Cougars to face Virginia-Villanova winner.
Nov. 16, 2003
SALT LAKE CITY - Junior Krissa Campbell propelled the BYU women's soccer team into the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Soccer Championships for the third time in six years, as the Cougars defeated Idaho State 2-0 on Saturday. Playing in round two of the NCAA tournament at Ute Field in Salt Lake City, Utah, the Cougars came out strong with intensity and managed to crack through the Bengal defense which two days previous had held Utah scoreless through two overtimes before winning on penalty kicks. "I have said all year that this is a special team," said BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood. "This group of seniors has done great things for our program and they deserve a good ending to their careers." Those seniors have had a hand in four of the team's seven-consecutive NCAA appearances, three of the team's Mountain West Conference Championships and now four NCAA postseason wins. On the day, BYU refused to give the Bengals much of a chance to get into the game as the Cougars out shot ISU 21-5 and dominated the possession of the ball throughout the game. The Cougars controlled the first period as BYU out shot ISU 14-2 including 6-1 on shots-on-goal and a 3-0 corner kick advantage. The Cougars tandem of sophomore Jaime Rendich and junior Krissa Campbell supplied the pressure as the two combined for four of the shots on goal in the period. Campbell came up with her first goal early in the game as she recorded her fifth goal of the year and second strike of the postseason. Campbell's first goal came only 12 minutes into the game and marked the second goal the Cougars have managed to score in the first 15 minutes of play in as many games. On the goal, sophomore Jaime Rendich found Campbell with a cross into the Bengals' box which Campbell took and then blasted the ball past ISU keeper Shannon Boyle.
With 10 minutes remaining in the first period, Campbell struck as she took a pass from senior Jennifer Fielding and broke through the Bengal defense. Boyle came up to make the stop but was unable to hold on to the ball and Campbell was there to tap the ball into the open net.
The score gave the Cougars a 2-0 lead going into the break and had the Cougars set up for the win. When play resumed the Bengals came out with fire and tried to really push the ball up the field, but the Cougars answered back with defense from freshmen Nicole Jensen and Claire Thomas as well as sophomore Charlene Lui and senior Britney Holman who refused to give in. The Cougar offense continued to attack the net but was unable to get another strike as BYU missed the goal by a matter of inches. Senior All-American and Hermann Trophy semifinalist Aleisha Rose's free kick from 20 yards out with time winding down bounced off the crossbar and came down in front of Campbell whose header just missed the net as it went over the goal. "I needed just two more inches," said Campbell referring to her height that was not enough to knock the ball down instead of going over. BYU will now wait to find out which team it will face next as the Cougars will face the winner of the Virginia-Villanova game taking place tomorrow. |
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