Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
PROVO — BYU women’s soccer had a year for the ages, the first-ever unbeaten regular season in program history, a second-consecutive outright West Coast Conference title, and the second-highest NCAA Tournament seed in program history with Monday’s announcement of a No. 2 national seed.
The same praise could be heaped on midfielder Mikayla Colohan, the Cougars’ midfield engine.
The junior from Davis High was named WCC Player of the Year, as voted upon by the league’s coaches and announced Tuesday, while coach Jennifer Rockwood received Coach of the Year honors.
It’s easy to look back on the historic regular season. But Colohan said Monday after the NCAA selection show that awards, streaks and records were the farthest thing from the Cougars’ minds during a 19-game sprint through the season.
"We’ve just taken it game-by-game. I think that’s what has been key all year," Colohan said. "That’s what we told each other going into each game: Don’t look at who we are playing, but just treat it like any other game. I think it’s really helped us be successful."
In addition to the two headliners, nine players from BYU received all-WCC recognition, including first-team selections Elise Flake and Alyssa Jefferson. Lizzy Braby and Rachel Bingham Lyman were second-team selections, while goalkeeper Sabrina Davis, Danika Serassio, Jamie Shepherd and Cameron Tucker received honorable mention honors. Shepherd and SaraJayne Affleck were named to the All-WCC Freshman team.
Santa Clara’s Alex Loera won WCC Defender of the Year, San Diego goalkeeper Amber Michel was league ‘Keeper of the Year, and Santa Clara newcomer Izzy D’Aquila was named WCC Freshman of the Year.
Colohan scored 14 goals, including four game-winners, while adding six assists on a conference-high 85 shots and 42 shots on goal in a breakout junior season. The midfield general scored eight goals in six of nine league matches and won WCC Player of the Week twice during the season.
Rockwood led the Cougars to an 18-0-1 overall record that included an 8-0-1 mark in WCC play. The now two-time defending WCC Coach of the Year helped the only team she’s coached to their 20th NCAA Tournament appearance in 25 seasons and 23rd winning season.
The Cougars open the 2019 NCAA Tournament at 6 p.m. MST Friday against Boise State.
