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SALT LAKE CITY — Any question of how the BYU women's soccer team would handle the No. 1 national ranking for the first time in program history were answered early in the Cougars' annual rivalry match at the University of Utah.
Olivia Smith-Griffits answered them late, too.
Smith-Griffits scored two goals in the second half for her first career brace, and Allie Fryer added two more in BYU's 6-1 win in front of a capacity crowd at Ute Soccer Field.
"We obviously like to be up there and to play with that confidence," Smith-Griffits said of the No. 1 ranking. "We know what we're capable and what we can be. But it is our standard, and I think it helps us play to that level."
Did the Cougars handle the ranking well? And if so, how?
"I think the No. 1 thing is no one remembers who the No. 1-ranked team was in September. They only remember in December," she added. "We said that a lot. It doesn't matter right now. Let's prove it when it actually matters."
Olivia Wade Katoa and Rachel McCarthy each added a goal for the Cougars, who improved to 7-0 with back-to-back 6-1 wins over in-state competition.
Less than a week after clinching the top spot in the United Soccer Coaches poll for the first time in program history, the Cougars wasted little time establishing a lead.
Olivia Griffitts is on fire🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/VvmQz714KW
— BYU Women's Soccer (@byusoccer_w) September 10, 2023
Fryer poked home Brecken Mozingo's cross in the fourth minute to lift the visitors to a 1-0 advantage, and Katoa doubled it 20 minutes with a right-footed rip inside the bottom right corner. Rachel McCarthy stretched the lead to 3-0 with a screamer into the top shelf in the 32nd minute.
But Utah (3-2-2) didn't go away.
Katie O'Kane converted a penalty kick in the 36th minute to pull one back for the Utes, who were out-shot 9-4 in the first half and held to just two shots on target.
But Smith-Griffits opened the second half with a goal that caromed off the goalkeeper's gloves in the 53rd minute, and Fryer finished Kendel Petersen's team-best seventh assist of the year for a brace to push BYU's lead to 5-1 at the hour mark.
"We were up 3-0, and we needed to have better composure. We forced too much in the attacking half and lost the momentum because Utah is a great counter team," BYU coach Jennifer Rockwood said. "We got a little too anxious and didn't keep our composure. But we've all been in big games, and we didn't need to force anything. We just needed to keep the ball moving, and that's something that's worked for us all year."
Smith-Griffits struck the back of the net with her second goal of the second half to stretch the lead to 6-1, and the rout was on as the Cougars improved to 26-7-3 all-time against their arch rivals to the north.
"We've gotten so much out of our wide play from both Petey and Liv. Our team loves to attack from our outside backs," Rockwood said of the converted central midfielder Smith-Griffits. "Our team is getting a lot of production out of them, and both Liv and Petey are capable of scoring and assisting each and every game. Their teammates just have to be disciplined in that system."
The Cougars out-shot Utah 25-6 and held the hosts to just three shots on target. Savanna Mason and Lynette Hernaez split time in goal, making a save apiece.
The Cougars open Big 12 play Thursday against TCU. Kickoff from South Field is scheduled for 7 p.m. MDT on ESPNU.
"We're ready for it," Smith-Griffits said. "We're excited."
