Utah Soccer Falls In MWC Championship

Saturday, November 8

Las Vegas, Nev.

1:00 PM

University of Utah

BYU

11/8/2008 12:00 AM | Soccer

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The University of Utah soccer team (11-9-2) dropped a 1-0 decision to BYU (17-5-0) in the Mountain West Conference Tournament Championship match Saturday at Johann Field.

"I was pleased with how we defended and competed throughout the entire match," Utah head coach Rich Manning said. "We gave it our best shot and we had two or three good chances but it just didn't go our way."

Utah goalkeeper Emalee Rogers (Centerville, Utah) stopped eight Cougar shots in the match, but fell to 6-8-2 this season. The Utes were outshot in the match, 19-11. The Cougars got nine shots on goal, compared to the Utes' five.

"BYU's team speed was fantastic," Manning said. "They put a lot of pressure on you every time we tried to create some space. Every time I thought we had something going offensively, they got right back in position to make the plays they needed to make."

The Cougars controlled the run of play for most of the opening half and the Utes were outshot, 12-8. But as the first half wore on, Utah started to get more control of the pace for the first 15 minutes and the Utes started to gain more possession time as the period neared its conclusion in a scoreless draw.

Rogers made five of her eight saves in the first half, including a key stop late in the half. BYU's Kassidy Christensen received a pass on a break away but Rogers sprinted out of the 18-yard box and covered the ball to turn the Cougars away for a key save in the 38th minute.

One of Utah's three MWC All-Tournament selections, forward Kelly Isleib (Park City, Utah), attempted a team-high four shots. Midfielder Mallory Mitamura (Centerville, Utah) was second on the team with two shots. Four other Utah players attempted a single shot apiece.

Isleib was named to the MWC All-Tournament team as a forward. She attempted two shots on goal in the championship match and had four more shots against TCU as she set the tone of the overtime period in Utah's 2-1 win over TCU on Thursday.

"Kelly is great on the ball," Manning said. "She was just her usual self during this tournament and created a lot of opportunities for us."

As the new half began, BYU struck first early in the period with its first shot when Auna Janis won possession of a free ball at midfield 20 yards from the goal then lofted a pass to a striding Katie Larkin, who blasted a low shot from the left side of the box to the right post at 48:37 to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead they would never relinquish.

Utah earned two more All-MWC Tournament selections for performances against BYU and in a 2-1 overtime win against the Horned Frogs. Amanda Sanchez (Sacramento, Calif.) was selected to the postseason squad with stellar play in the midfield.

"Amanda has been such a calming presence for us in the midfield," Manning said. "She showed that again throughout this tournament."

Forward Lauren Hair (Park City, Utah) was named to the all-tournament squad after dishing out an assist and creating the game-winning goal against the Horned Frogs.

"Lauren has been great consistently for us the entire season," Hair said. "She was always in the opponent's penalty box and creating problems."