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PROVO — If the home opener for No. 9 BYU women's soccer against Colorado is any indication, rekindling an offense a year after losing Mikayla Colohan and Cameron Tucker to the NWSL won't be much of a problem.
Finishing that offense, on the other hand? That's a different story.
Jamie Shepherd had a goal and an assist, but Colorado scored a second goal with 10 minutes remaining as the 25th-ranked Buffaloes rallied for a 2-2 draw Monday afternoon at South Field.
"There's definitely pressure," Shepherd said. "We lost our top two goal scorers, and they were great. That's where that pressure comes from.
"But I've got all the trust in my forwards, our wingers, and everyone stepping up to score goals. We're ready to take on that pressure."
BYU out-shot the Buffs (3-0-1) 31-6 with double-digit shots in each half, and limited Colorado to just six shots on target. But the Buffaloes converted two of their three shots on frame, while BYU had just six total attempts on target.
"It's a very disappointing result for us, but not for effort," BYU coach Jennifer Rockwood said. "I like that we came out and give ourselves every opportunity to play and to score.
"We just have to be better with our chances, and hopefully we can get off to a better start. We've got a lot of finishing to work on."
The draw leaves BYU (2-0-1) unbeaten since Oct. 30, an 11-match run that includes draws in the NCAA College Cup semifinals and championship game; the Cougars advanced over Santa Clara in a penalty kick shootout first, before Florida State clinched the national title on penalties a few nights later.
🚨GOAL!🚨
— BYU Sports Nation (@BYUSportsNation) August 29, 2022
Jamie Shepherd puts @byusoccer_w back on top with this left-footed goal. ⚽#BYUwSOC | #GoCougspic.twitter.com/0rPBgIMDue
"We'll take a draw over a loss," Shepherd said. "But we've got two big games this weekend, and we'll come and be ready for those two weekend games.
"It's good to be home. Traveling is fun, but nothing beats playing on South Field in front of our fans. It's good to be back."
BYU out-shot the Buffs 13-2 in the first half, including Tara Warner's attempt inside the box from Shepherd that sailed past the far post in the final seconds of the half. The Cougars also had the only shot on goal, a 20th-minute low blast from Ellie Maughan into the left corner that Colorado goalkeeper Bella Grust saved.
After 24 shot attempts, Olivia Wade took a pass from Shepherd and opened the scoring from distance with a ball that skipped inside the box and bounded past Grust in the 64th minute to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead.
Jenny Beyer equalized just five minutes later, bending a corner kick into the net that caromed off the hands of BYU goalkeeper Savanna Mason for the Buffaloes.
But Shepherd needed just two more minutes — give or take, with an NCAA-mandated hydration break in between to push the lead back in BYU's favor. The team captain from American Fork scored her third goal of the season on a cheeky right-foot rip into the top left corner to push BYU to a 2-1 lead just after the 72nd minute.
"After they scored that goal, I think there was a little fire in us," Shepherd said. "We had a lot of shots the whole game, and I think (Colorado) scoring was a little bit of a wake-up call — especially for me. As that No. 10, I need to take people on and get my shots off. I think that's what I did; I took her on, and found that back post.
"We needed one. And the celebration was a good celebration."
Colorado's Shyra James converted the second equalizer on a counter attack in the 80th minute, sprinting down the left sideline and burying a right-footed ball into the bottom right corner to salvage a draw on the road.
Rated No. 3 nationally by the United Soccer Coaches in the preseason, BYU dropped to No. 9 after a 2-0 loss at top-ranked North Carolina in an exhibition match. But the Cougars responded well with an opening-week road trip, first picking up a 1-0 win at Cal State Fullerton before Shepherd notched a brace in a 2-0 win over No. 20 Ohio State.
That set up Monday's home opener, a mid-afternoon kickoff in Colorado's only road match in the first six of the season.
And the Pac-12 foe from Boulder will happily take the road draw before returning to back-to-back home matches beginning Thursday against Texas A&M-Commerce.
The Cougars will stay home Thursday to host Alabama. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. MDT.
