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PROVO — Nadia Gomes only remembered one game like it.
As a star forward at Brighton High, the Bengals were set to play archrival Alta when a storm rolled into the Salt Lake Valley, covering the field in water.
But the then-region rivals couldn’t reschedule the contest. With no lightning in the area, the game commenced — soaking players, coaches and officials in a heated affair.
Thursday night, then, was a blast from the past.
Gomes had two goals and an assist to lead the No. 4 BYU women’s soccer team past Denver 7-0 after an hour-long halftime lightning delay and rains that swamped South Field for the final 45 minutes.
“I don’t think it was this bad. It had puddles on the field, but it was fun,” Gomes said. “It really was.
“My coaches have been telling me to get more touches on the ball. I guess I’ve been doing that, getting more open, and taking my shots to help more, too.”
Michele Vasconcelos added a goal and an assist, and Ashley Hatch also scored, marking the third-straight game Gomes, Vasconcelos and Hatch have scored at least one goal for the Cougars (8-1).
“We knew we wanted to put the game away early, and I think that was a big help to our start,” Vasconcelos said. “Our team play is so on right now, so it’s hard not to score when everyone is playing so well.”
Hatch opened the scoring less than six minutes in, powering a pass from Paige Barker into the left side of the net for the early advantage. Elena Medeiros scored just three minutes later off an assist from Vasconcelos, who drilled a shot in the 16th minute to give BYU the early 3-0 lead.
It's raining a little at South Field. pic.twitter.com/dHvHeaWbuy
— BYU Women's Soccer (@byusoccer_w) September 23, 2016
“Our first 15 minutes were brilliant,” BYU coach Jennifer Rockwood said. “I’m just really proud of the way they played. We’re getting better at the small things, getting a little better each time we step on the game field. Our forwards are scoring goals, and this is a great win for us.”
Gomes finished former Denver soccer player Jocelyn Loomis’ cross from the end line with one touch to make the scoreline read 4-0 at halftime.
“We’ve encouraged Nadia to get more touches on the ball,” Rockwood said. “At Washington State game, she was dominant and touched the ball a lot more. Just a reminder to go out and get the ball.
“She’s practiced great the last few days, and I think she’s feeling a lot of confidence. She’s just got to touch the ball more.”
The Cougars scored efficiently, netting four goals on their first five shots on frame.
After lengthy discussion over safety and weather conditions at halftime, both teams agreed to try to play the remainder of the game. BYU used its late-game substitutions liberally, bringing in freshman goalkeeper Sabrina Macias around the hour mark and putting former Lone Peak High goalkeeper Cassidy Smith in defense for the final 10 minutes.
Gomes notched her second goal of the game in the 48th minute, and Bizzy Phillips Bowen scored just five minutes later. The former Alta High star bent in a free kick from the edge of the box to score her first goal of the season.
Freshman Elise Flake capped the scoring with a goal in the final 30 seconds to give BYU the final scoreline.
But the Pioneers (3-7) could never find their footing. The Summit League team, which had been shut out in its three previous matches, had a limited bench with several key injuries.
The conditions hearkened back to BYU’s 2-0 NCAA Tournament loss at Colorado in 2014, which was played in a snowstorm.
“It was less than 10 degrees; it was awful,” said Vasconcelos, pointing to plastic baggies that covered her cleats. “But this was pretty bad. This was so wet, and the other was so cold. They are both the same awful.”
BYU returns to South Field at 8 p.m. MDT Saturday night against Long Beach State (4-4-1), before opening West Coast Conference play next Thursday against Santa Clara.
