Squad Named Cougar Club Women's Team of the Year
A few more firsts for the record books of BYU's women's soccer team highlighted their successful 2000 season. A first round bye into the NCAA Championships and a number eight ranking by the NSCAA the team's highest ever will make their mark in the history books. Not to mention another winning season (19-4-1, 6-0) a fourth consecutive visit to the NCAA Championships and their second straight finish in the "Sweet 16" of that tournament make them the top women's team for the Cougars.
In 2000 the competition for the women's soccer team was one of the toughest to date as the Cougars faced seven teams that competed in the 1999 NCAA Championships and took on four first-time opponents. At home an average of 1,100 fans saw BYU play to another undefeated regular season their second consecutive, before suffering their lone loss to Santa Clara in the "Round of 16" of the NCAA tournament. The Cougars had an 11-game winning streak prior to the game against the Broncos.
Head Coach Jennifer Rockwood picked up her 100th win in 2000, a 2-0 shutout over Wisconsin-Milwaukee on September 23. BYU's potent offense dominated opponents all season scoring 87 goals to 22 with an average of 27 shots on goal a game. The defense recognized for shutting down scoring leaders did just that with eight shutouts, allowing only 21 goals all year.
In the Mountain West Conference the Cougar team dominated with a perfect 6-0 record and its second straight championship title. Accolades went to Coach Rockwood voted Coach of the Year. Joining her were Michelle Peterson, Player of the Year and Aleisha Cramer as Freshman of the Year. Michelle and Aleisha joined teammates Sara Reading and Staci Reynolds on the MWC's First Team with Athelia Graham, Natalyn Lewis and Kim Lowe getting Second Team All-Conference honors.
At the conference tournament hosted by UNLV, BYU swept the top awards. Michelle Peterson was named MVP with teammates Sara Reading, Jeni Willardson, and Aleisha Cramer joining Peterson on the All-Tournament Team.
Player highlights in 2000 included Michelle Peterson as the team's scoring leader finishing her final season with 18 goals and 12 assists for 48 points. Sara Reading was next on the leader board with 18 goals and four assists for her 40 points. Kim Lowe the team's third leading scorer and the top assist leader tallied 11 goals and 15 points for 37 points off of 75 shots on goal.
Post season player honors went to Aleisha Cramer who picked up her first All-American citation being named to the NSCAA Women's Soccer First Team, the lone freshman to garner such an honor. Natalyn Lewis received BYU's first-ever NSCAA Scholar Athlete All-American award. Staci Reynolds picked up her second All-American accolade as an Honorable Mention All-America by Soccer Buzz Magazine. That same soccer publication named Michelle Peterson as a Second Team All-American.
