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BYU defender Taylor Isom hadn't bagged a goal for nearly a calendar year before redirecting a short corner kick into the back of the net Monday afternoon.
Isom's goal was the opener in an efficient performance from the No. 10-ranked Cougars in a 2-0 rivalry win over Utah, BYU's first win in Salt Lake City since 2010.
"We've been practicing that all week. … I held my run back a little bit so that I wouldn't get cut off and I just hit it," Isom said. "I don't know what happened after that, all my teammates were jumping all over me. It was really fun. It was a goal I'll never forget."
BYU midfielder Ashley Hatch, who leads the team with seven goals, nearly added a second in the 31st minute with a chip shot over the head of Utes goalkeeper Carly Nelson.
But Nelson recovered with a pair of acrobatic saves, batting the ball back just in time.
The Utes' offense had its share of chances, midfielder Paola van der Veen launching seven shots of her own in an 18-shot and nine-corner performance. But most of the shots were from long range or were easily gathered up by BYU goalkeeper Hannah Clark the most threatening coming with a closing minute shot from forward Hailey Skolmoski that ricocheted off the crossbar.
"We've got to shoot better and we've got to keep working on it," Utah coach Rich Manning said. "I guess it was one of those days."
Hatch took advantage of Utah's misfiring attack in the 61st minute, bagging BYU's second goal by driving through the center of the Utes defense before slotting the ball coolly into the lower left corner of the net.
"We knew this would be a crazy game. Rivalry games always are," Hatch said. "So we knew we had to try to keep possession of the ball and not let our emotions get the best of us."
Players and coaches from both teams acknowledged the intensity of the rivalry, but that continuing the game is important for the community and soccer at large.
"The rivalry has been around far before any of us have been around. I'm just glad that Rich and I can look forward to it each and every year," BYU coach Jennifer Rockwood said. "It's on the schedule for the next few years, it's a great game and it brings out the soccer community. That's what we're all trying to do."
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Storylines
R BYU wins its first match in Salt Lake City since 2010.
• Utah is shut out despite outshooting BYU 18-13.
• BYU's Ashley Hatch scores her eighth goal of the season.