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PROVO — If revenge is a dish best served cold, Friday night's 44-degree temperatures should've sufficed for BYU women's soccer.
Kendall Petersen and Olivia Wade-Katoa each scored a goal, and the top-seeded Cougars avenged their only loss of the regular season with a 2-0 win over Utah State in front of a standing room-only crowd at frigid South Field.
BYU entered the all-time series with a dominant 13-2-1 overall record, but the Aggies (14-8-1) were 2-0-1 in the last three — unbeaten against the Cougars under head coach Manny Martins, the reigning Mountain West Coach of the Year.
That included a 1-0 win earlier this season on a late second-half goal in Logan, the only loss of the regular season for BYU.
"I think we definitely came into this game with a chip on our shoulder," Wade-Katoa said. "It's something we've been working on all week long, getting up for those game and knowing what they were going to show us. Everyone was super focused and locked in on what they needed to do tonight."
The Cougars didn't need to wait until the second half Friday night.
Jamie Shepherd found Petersen near the edge of the 18-yard box, and the senior right-footed a shot that sailed under Utah State goalkeeper Diera Walton and just inside the near post to give BYU a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute.
BULLSEYE 🎯
— BYU Women's Soccer (@byusoccer_w) November 11, 2023
📺 https://t.co/YteBWvfrA4pic.twitter.com/dtOWbIXFyQ
"We talked a lot about finding those half spaces and stretching them wide," said Shepherd, BYU's all-time career appearances leader. "As we were swinging the ball, I saw Petey in that gap that we wanted to own. That's her sweet spot, she kept it low, and it was a banger."
Erin Bailey nearly doubled the advantage in the 38th minute, but Walton came charging out of goal to make back-to-back saves to keep play under control at halftime.
The Cougars spent most of the first half in Utah State's defensive third, outshooting the Aggies 12-3 and limiting the visitors to just two shots on target. But Walton made five saves and BYU freshman Lynette Hernaez made two of her own to lead just 1-0 at the break.
Wade-Katoa doubled the advantage in the 73rd minute, squaring up a wide-open shot at the top of the box and lifting it under the crossbar to put the Cougars up 2-0 on an assist from Ellie Boren.
Hernaez made three saves in goal to clinch the shutout for BYU (17-2-3), which outshot the Aggies 28-7 including 9-3 shots on target.
It may have been even worse were it not for Walton, the All-Mountain West Tournament honoree and graduate goalkeeper from Utah State who had seven saves.
"Diera is a trooper. The two times we've come down here with her, two years ago and today, she was the best player on the field," Martins said. "Not to take any credit away from our opposition's players, but she was incredible today. If it isnt' for her, today the game gets away from us a little sooner. She's forever going to be a legend up on our campus."
BYU advanced to host USC in next weekend's second round after the Trojans' 1-0 win over Grand Canyon. Kickoff next Thursday is set for 7 p.m. MT.
