Nov. 22, 2003

Final Stats

VILLANOVA, PA. - In the third round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 22nd, at the Villanova Soccer Complex, the 15th ranked Villanova women's soccer team played BYU to a 0-0 tie through regulation and two overtimes, but fell to the Cougars 5-3 on penalty kicks. By advancing on penalty kicks, BYU clinched an Elite Eight berth for the first time in its history. The Wildcats end the 2003 season with a school record 15 victories (15-5-5 overall record), to go along with their first-ever Big East Tournament Championship and NCAA Sweet 16 appearance.

Villanova and BYU reached the shootout after playing to a 0-0 double overtime draw. For the Wildcats the shootout was their fourth in five games, while the Cougars were looking at the first shootout in the program's nine-year history.

BYU chose to go with a new goalkeeper, Mandy Gott, in the shootout in place of the starter Ashley Smith. The move proved to be a good one as Gott stopped Villanova's Kelly Breslin to help clinch the shootout win.

With the stop, the Cougars were still up just 4-3 and would need one more goal to ensure the win. Nicole Jensen came through for the Cougars as her shot zipped into the right side of the net past Wildcat keeper Chrissy Dolan giving BYU their first ever Sweet 16 victory.

In the first period of play, the Wildcats came out strong, controlling possession and pushing the ball up the field.

Through the first 45 minutes, however, neither team was able to gain an edge to put the ball into the net. Despite the Cougars out shooting the Wildcats 7-3, BYU and Villanova were even in shots on goal in the first half.

The second half of the game played out much the same as the first period as the Cougars and Wildcats battled each other to another scoreless half.

At the end of regulation BYU had out shot Villanova 16-9 including a 6-4 advantage for shots-on-goal.

With nearly 10 minutes remaining in regulation the Cougars had their best opportunity to score as Jaime Rendich passed the ball to Lydia Ojuka inside the Villanova box. Ojuka turned and found Krissa Campbell on the right side, but Campbell's touch on the ball sailed just high of the goal.

In the first overtime, the Cougars and Wildcats battled to yet another defensive standstill.

The second overtime proved to be much of the same thing. The Cougars refused to give up any ground to the Wildcats and but the Villanova defense also held strong.

Going into the shootout the Cougars switched keepers replacing Smith with Gott.

BYU would attempt first with junior Krissa Campbell taking the first shot for the Cougars. Campbell's shot flew past Dolan on the right side giving BYU the 1-0 edge.

Villanova would answer back to tie the shootout at one apiece on a goal by Lindsey Finnegan.

Aleisha Rose put the Cougars ahead 2-1 with her shot into the right side of the net.

Villanova's next attempt was blocked by Gott but was called back as the referee said Gott had moved forward before the kick, but the second attempt by the Wildcats' Valerie Grow was good tying it up a 2-2.

With the score tied at 3-3 after a Laura Johnson penalty kick for the `Cats, BYU took the lead at 4-3 on a Brooke Thulin PK. On Villanova's next attempt Gott came up with the stop that would set the Cougars up for the win. With the game now on the line for BYU, Jensen stepped up and propelled the Cougars into the Elite Eight with shot into the right side of the net.