BYU Soccer advances to MWC Championship

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PROVO, Utah - First-seed BYU (17-2-2) ensured that the top-two seeds in the 2009 MWC Women's Soccer Tournament will play for the championship on Saturday with the Cougars' 1-0 victory over fourth-seed New Mexico (13-5-3).

With the win, BYU advances to play second-seeded San Diego State at noon on Saturday, Nov. 7.

BYU's freshman Carlee Payne headed in the game's lone score for her 13th goal of the season. After BYU defender Andrea Willis sent a free kick in front of the New Mexico goal, teammate Kassidy C. Shumway headed the pass back to Payne for the goal. Payne led all players in the game with three shots.

"It was tough header," said BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood. "I don't know how she did it. She's had a fantastic year for us and scored a lot of big goals."

New Mexico's Jess Quador, Rachel Fields and Elizabeth Lambert all tested BYU goalkeeper McKinzie Olson with shots on goal but to no prevail. Olson recorded her 11th personal shutout win, another career-high.

The Cougars finished with 11 shots to New Mexico's nine.

BYU holds an all-time 9-8-4 record against San Diego State and a 3-1-0 record against them in conference tournament play.

Saturday's championship game will be streamed live on The Mtn.'s Web site (www.themtn.tv) and air on the linear network via same-day tape delay at midnight MT. It will also be re-broadcast at 2 p.m. MT on Sunday, Nov. 8.