Gomes' back-to-back goals give No. 13 Cougars 2-0 Halloween victory

BYU vs. LMU Box Score

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PROVO, Utah — Two goals scored by Nadia Gomes within 14 seconds of each other gave the No. 13 Cougars (14-2-2, 6-1-1) a 2-0 victory over LMU (12-5-1, 6-2-0) Saturday evening to stay in the West Coast Conference title chase.

“It was a pretty even first half against a very good team,” BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. “I told the girls to settle down and believe the ball would fall for us and Nadia did it early. Nadia is so quick and she’s dangerous. She hasn’t scored in a few games and it’s been unlucky for her, but we needed it tonight and she came through.”

Gomes’ first goal came towards the end of the 53rd minute, when Paige Hunt crossed a ball into the box where Gomes settled it with her back towards the goal, and turned and shot it low and to the right, just out of reach of LMU goalkeeper Charlee Pruitt.

Fourteen seconds later, Gomes received a through ball from sophomore Jocelyn Loomis after she intercepted the ball on LMU's kickoff. Pruitt came out to save the ball, but Gomes was able to slip the ball past her and into the back of the net.

The goals are Gomes’ sixth and seventh on the season. The 14-second back-to-back goals are the fastest consecutive goals in the past decade, and tie the record for the third fastest consecutive goals in BYU history.

BYU would keep up the offensive pressure throughout the second half, ending the night with 20 shots. Gomes led the team with six shots, followed by Michele Murphy Vasconcelos with four. Boaz would end the night with the shutout and three saves. The shutout set the program record for consecutive home shutouts at 10, topping a nine-game streak from 1999.

In the first 15 minutes of the first half, the Cougars saw early pressure from LMU’s offense. Boaz came out on a one-on-one in the second minute of the first half to make a save after a well-played cross from LMU’s Morgan Hilby. Boaz would also save a dangerous free kick at the top of the area in the 38th minute as well to keep the scoreless draw.

BYU responded with an offensive attack for the final 25 minutes of the half. Gomes had three shots in the half, including a breakaway after a through ball played from Murphy Vasconcelos. Gomes’ shot required a diving save from Pruitt, who punched the ball out to the right.

The Cougars had 10 shots in the first half taken by eight different players. They also had two corner kicks that added to the offensive attack. One of the corner kicks played by Madie Lyons in the 30th minute struck the crossbar off the head of Stephanie Ringwood. Marissa Nimmer Linehan tried to put the rebound in, but missed high.

BYU will play their final WCC game Saturday, Nov. 7 against Saint Mary’s at South Field. The game will begin at 5:00 p.m. MST and will be broadcast on TheW.tv, the Cougar IMG Sports Network and ESPN 960 AM.