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Provo • The rivaly was the same. It was the results that were a tad one-sided.
Two streaks endured Tuesday night for the BYU women's soccer team.
First, with the resounding 4-0 victory against visiting Utah, the Cougars extended their unbeaten run at South Field to 18 games. The win, in which all the scoring came in the final 32 minutes, was also BYU's fifth in a row against the Utes.
And while no longer in the same conference, the intense heat of the BYU-Utah rivalry remained the same. On this night, however, the Cougars (1-0-1) just had too much talent.
"We just wanted to come out in the second half with more passion," said BYU midfielder Jessica Ringwood, whose free kick from just outside the 18-yard box in the 58th minute unleashed the Cougar attack. "This game is as important to us as any conference game."
Utah (0-1-1), forced to play eight freshmen and sophomores, lost its two key senior leaders, defenders Lauren Dudley and Lauren Porter, midway through the second half. Without them, the BYU offense was able to rip open the Ute defense as four different Cougars scored.
BYU coach Jennifer Rockwood told her team at halftime, "We needed more emotion."
Dudley was the first to go, picking up her second yellow card of the game, an automatic red card and ejection. That set up Ringwood's liner into the left corner. With about 20 minutes to play, Porter injured her left knee. Initial reports had the injury as a torn MCL. Despite the final score, Utah (0-1-1) coach Rich Manning was able to root out a few positives, including his new players' reaction to competing down a player in front of 4,437 spectators.
"They've never played in anything like this," he said. "The mistakes we're making now we won't be making later on."
Ute midfielder Jen Ericson, who nearly put Utah in front midway through the first half, rattling the crossbar, was determined to play tough to the end.
"That's what we did," she said. "We were not going to give up. This game is always so exciting, full of emotion. The intensity is always there."
Heart, unfortunately, couldn't make up for experience and healthy legs.
BYU 4, Utah 0
R Four Cougars score in the second half as BYU outshoots Utah 18-3.
• BYU's Jennie Marshall assists on goals by freshman Jaiden Thornock and sophomore Niki Fernandes.
• Cougar junior Auna Doria scores the game's second goal in front of 4,437 spectators at South Field.