Box Score

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The University of San Diego women's soccer team battled hard, but fell to Brigham Young University, 3-2, Friday evening in the West Coast Conference opener for both teams.

With the loss, the Toreros fall to 4-5-2 overall, move to 0-1-0 in the WCC and saw their three-match winning streak come to an end. With the win, the Cougars improve to 7-3-2 overall and 1-0-0 in the WCC, while also increasing their winning streak to six matches.

San Diego struck first, as in the 13th minute of action, Jacqueline Altschuld took control of the ball near the 35 yard line, and dribbled through the Cougar defense, then fired off rocket shot to the lower left corner that found the back of the net, giving USD a 1-0 lead.

The Cougars answered right back, as in the 16th minute of play, Marissa Nimmer took a corner kick, and the ball found the head of Elisabeth Phillips, who headed the ball towards the goal. The ball was blocked by the Torero defense, only the rebound found the foot of Niki Fernandes, who was then able to tap the ball to the goal line. The USD defense got a foot on it, but it was too late, and the ball barley broke the goal line plane, to knot the score at 1-all.

San Diego then regained the lead in the 52nd minute of action, Nikki Pappalardo took control of the ball and dribbled up the right side of the field, then sent a cross to Julia Sherwood, who in turn hit a one-timer past the BYU `keeper, to give USD a 2-1 lead.

BYU then found themselves back on even playing terms with the Toreros in the 59th minute of action. Michele Murphy sent a cross to Phillips, and she fired off a shot, that deflected off a USD defender and into the back of the net, to move the score to 2-2.

The Cougars then took the lead in the 78th minute of action. Elena Medeiros passed the ball to Ashley Hatch, and Hatch then fired off a shot from just outside the goal box, and the ball sailed into the back of the net, to give the Cougars the 3-2 win.

BYU outshot USD 24-9, and held an 8-2 advantage in corner kicks.

McKenna Tollack was saddled with the loss in goal for the Toreros, as she allowed three goals and recorded nine saves. Her counterpart, Katherine Snyder, was credited with the win for the Cougars, as she allowed two goals and recorded one save.

The Toreros will return to action on Thursday, as they host Gonzaga University in a 7 p.m. WCC match inside the friendly confines of Torero Stadium.