Two more at home on Thursday and Saturday

PROVO, Utah - The No. 24 BYU women's soccer team continues its six-game home swing this week with a game on Thursday, Sept. 6, against Texas at 7 p.m. MDT and on Saturday, Sept. 8, against No. 6 Penn State at 7:30 p.m. MDT.

The Cougars are now 4-1 on the season after nabbing a pair of shutouts last week over No. 11 Long Beach State and Colorado College. BYU has recorded double-digit shots in its last three games. 

Sophomore Jaiden Thornock leads the BYU squad with three goals and 16 shots on the year, and 14 other BYU players have also recorded at least one shot this season. Junior goalkeeper Erica Owens has tallied 413 minutes in front of the net and made 17 saves while allowing just three goals in five games. 

OPPONENTS
Texas comes to Provo on a 2-4 record having lost three of its last four games. Seniors Kristin Cummins and Hannah Higgins were named to the 2012 Preseason All-Big 12 team as the team’s top-two leading scorers returning from last season. Incoming freshman goalkeeper Abby Smith will miss the game on Thursday due to U-20 competition for team USA.

The Longhorns will be under a new head coach this season after Angela Kelly took the wheel in December of 2011. Kelly spent the last 12 years with Tennessee.

Texas leads the overall series against BYU 3-1.

Penn State comes to Provo with a 5-1 season record and their only loss to defending NCAA Tournament champion Stanford. 

Returning from the team’s 2011 squad that made a run to the NCAA tournament’s Sweet 16 are top-three goal scorers Maya Hayes, Taylor Schram and Emily Hurt, who netted 31, 12 and 6 goals, respectively. The team also returns four other goal scorers.

Hayes was a finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy last season while leading the nation with her 31 goals and 70 points, and also breaking numerous Penn State and Big Ten Records. Hayes is on this season’s Hermann Trophy Watch List. 

Schram earned All-Big Ten Second Team honors in 2011 after tallying career-highs in goals, assists, points and games started. 

Juniors Schram and Hayes will miss the first few weeks of the Nittany Lions’ season (including their game against BYU) due to U20 competition for team USA.

HOW TO FOLLOW
Thursday's game against Texas will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel and live stats will be available through the BYU women's soccer schedule page. 

Saturday's matchup against Penn State will be broadcast live on BYUtv. Fans can watch the game live on TV or online for free at byutvsports.com/gameday. Live stats are also available.

Both games can also be followed on the BYU women's soccer Twitter page.