Spurts of energy and aggressiveness at the beginning of both halves looked promising for Arizona soccer. Unfortunately, the Wildcats were unable to maintain either the energy or the aggressiveness in either half.
BYU rebounded after a 10-minute lapse at the beginning of the second half to get a 3-2 victory.
In its last game, Arizona gave up a goal to Utah roughly 90 seconds into the game. Not being ready from first whistle cost the Wildcats a game that it desperately needed to win.
This one didn’t start that way. Arizona’s players came out looking aggressive and in control. They had five shots in the first 14 minutes. That was half as many as they had in their last three matches combined. Two of those shots were on goal.
BYU’s first shot came in the 17th minute. It went in. Arizona trailed early once again.
Less than five minutes later, the Cougars had doubled their lead. It was just their second shot of the game. Both goals came off the foot of Ellie Walbruch.
Instead of getting more aggressive and trying to claw their way back into it, Arizona fell back. The Wildcats gave the Cougars time and space. They acted almost like they were the ones with the lead that they were protecting. When they did make a run, they fell into familiar habits of taking too long to get shots off. The defense inevitably regrouped with plenty of time to spare and there were no shots.
Before the team headed to Provo, senior midfielder Sami Baytosh discussed the difficulty the team has had scoring and getting enough shots. She first said that the team needed to shoot faster before correcting herself.
“Not faster, but instead of waiting for that perfect opportunity, we just need to shoot more,” Baytosh said. “Make the keepers save it.”
Baytosh may have been correct with her first thought. The Wildcats had several chances where they had the ball in a dangerous position but simply took to long to settle and try to get into a perfect situation. Inevitably, nothing happened. Shooting faster may have been to their advantage.
Up Next for Arizona Soccer
No. 12 Texas Tech (11-1-2, 5-0-2 Big 12) @ Arizona Wildcats (7-8, 2-5 Big 12)
When: Sunday, Oct. 19 @ 12 p.m. MST
Where: Mulcahy Soccer Stadium in Tucson, Ariz.
TV/Streaming: ESPNU/Watch ESPN
Stats: Arizona Live Stats
That lack of urgency meant they went into the half down 2-0. Arizona head coach Becca Moros was most concerned about the space her players were giving to the opponent.
“I like our tactics,” Moros told the BYU broadcasting crew after halftime. “I think that we matched up well with the difference in formations. I think we managed that well as long as we were pressing and working. As soon as we kind of backed off and gave them space, I think that that played into their advantages in their formation shape. So we need a push. We need to run, and we need to not stop running and chasing the whole half.”
Her team implemented that directive off the initial kickoff. Just over five minutes into the second half, midfielder Lily Boydstun played the ball to forward Narissa Fults out on the left side of the goal. Fults made a beautiful cross that Jessica Bedolla tapped into the net.
Arizona had cut the lead in half. It was also the first goal the Wildcats had scored since the 75th minute of their game against Oklahoma State on Sept. 28. They had played three complete matches since
The Wildcats kept up their aggressive play. It paid off again.
This time, Kyleigh Johnson and Narissa Fults assisted on another quick play that Lily Boydstun put into the net.
The match was tied in the 60th minute. Each team had 11 shots with five on goal.
After coming back in just 15 minutes of play, Arizona let go of the rope. The Wildcats didn’t take another shot in the game. They spent most of their time defending in BYU’s box or just outside of it. In the 76th minute, the Cougars broke through with Walbruch’s third goal of the match.
BYU took six shots over the final 30 minutes of the match. Arizona took none.
The Wildcats will board a plane back to Tucson to play No. 12 Texas Tech on Oct. 19. The Red Raiders defeated ASU 3-2 in Tempe on Thursday evening.
