2023 BYU Cougars women's soccer team explained

Sport:women's soccer
Year:2023
Team:BYU Cougars
Conference:Big 12 Conference
Short Conf:Big 12
Record:20–2–3
Conf Record:7–0–3
Head Coach:Jennifer Rockwood
Hc Year:29th
Stadium:South Field

The 2023 BYU Cougars women's soccer team represents Brigham Young University during the 2023 NCAA Division I women's soccer season. The Cougars are coached for a 29th consecutive season by Jennifer Rockwood, who was co-coach in 1995 and became the solo head coach in 1996. Before 1995 BYU women's soccer competed as a club team and not as a member of the NCAA. Overall the Cougars have made the NCAA tournament in 23 of the 28 seasons that Rockwood has been the head coach. Joining Rockwood are newly promoted Associate Head Coach Brent Anderson (7th season)[1] and as assistant coaches Steve Magleby (6th season)[2] and Tasha Bell (1st season).[3] Volunteer assistants Rachel Jorgensen (8th season) and Madie Gates (10th season) also return.

The Cougars enter 2023 under a banner of new beginnings. BYU competes as new members of the Big 12 Conference after joining the conference on July 1.[4] The Cougars come off of a season where they finished second in the WCC and went 11–3–7, 6–0–3 in the WCC. The Cougars participated in the NCAA Tournament before falling to North Carolina in the Sweet 16.[5] However the disappointing finish provides BYU with hope for the future as every starter from the 2022 season returns for their first Big 12 run.

The change in conference leads to a new scheduling format. Instead of playing conference matches on Thursday and Saturday, BYU will play conference matches on Thursday and Monday. Should their record prove to be adequate, BYU will then participate in a conference postseason tournament for the first time in 9 years (the WCC didn't have a postseason conference tournament). The Big 12 Women's Soccer postseason tournament will take place October 28- November 4 at the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex in Round Rock, TX.[6]

Personnel

Roster

No.PositionPlayerHeightHometownYear
0GKLynette HernaezCorona, CA
1GKHaven EmpeyAmerican Fork, UT
2MF, DOlivia GriffittsEagle, ID
3DElla RustandTucson, AZ
4F, MFAvery FrischknechtMapleton, UT
5DZoe JacobsKaysville, UT
6DTylie PrattGilbert, AZ
7FErin BaileyLayton, UT
8MFSierra PennockLindon, UT
9MFEmma NeffSalt Lake City, UT
9MF, FCarolina StringfellowSyracuse, UT
10MF, FOlivia (Wade) KatoaKaysville, UT
11MF, FEllie (Maughan) BorenNorth Ogden, UT
12MFJamie ShepherdAmerican Fork, UT
13F, MFBrecken MozingoSandy, UT
13F, MFLytiana AkinakaMaui, HI
14MF, FEllie FordProvo, UT
15FEllie WalbruchHighland, UT
16MF, DKendell PetersenSouth Weber, UT
19MF, FHalle DixonCarlsbad, CA
20FCamryn JorgensenHighland, UT
21DTara WarnerSpringville, UT
22F, MFBella FolinoAliso Viejo, CA
23FAllie FryerSpanish Fork, UT
24MFJosie ShepherdAmerican Fork, UT
24MF, DIzzi StrattonAlpine, UT
25MF, FJacey WoodLas Vegas, NV
26DLaveni VakaSandy, UT
28FAddie GardnerHighland, UT
33MF, FRachel McCarthyAmerican Fork, UT
34GKKelsey HoopesLivermore, CA
66GKSavanna (Empey) MasonAmerican Fork, UT

Media

Television & Internet Streaming

Most BYU women's soccer matches will have a TV broadcast or internet video stream available. ESPN+ will serve as the primary provider for most home and conference road matches.[7] Some may be elevated to ESPN TV networks. Non-conference road games will be provided by the respective conferences television or streaming platforms. Information on these television and streaming broadcasts can be found under each individual match.

Schedule and results

2023 BYU Cougars women's soccer Game Log[8]
Legend:      = Win      = Loss      = Tie      = Canceled      Bold = BYU team member
Overall (20–2–3)
Regular season (14–1–3)
Big 12 Tournament (2–1–0)
NCAA Tournament (4–0–0)

* indicates a non-conference game. All rankings from the United Soccer Coaches Poll on the date of the contest.

Announcers

Rankings

+ Regular season PollsPoll Pre-
Season
Week
1
Week
2
Week
3
Week
4
Week
5
Week
6
Week
7
Week
8
Week
9
Week
10
Week
11
Week
12
Postseason
Final
United Soccer Coaches131171[16] 166678776
Top Drawer Soccer1211932661084448 (1st Round)
7 (2nd Rd, Sweet 16)
4 (Elite 8)
style="background:#D8FFEB; width:20px;"
 Increase in ranking
 Decrease in ranking
 Not ranked previous week
(RV) Received Votes

References

For information on BYU's other athletic sports this season please check out the following:

See also: 2023 BYU Cougars women's volleyball team, 2023 BYU Cougars football team, 2023–24 BYU Cougars men's basketball team, 2023–24 BYU Cougars women's basketball team, 2024 BYU Cougars men's volleyball team, 2024 BYU Cougars baseball team and 2024 BYU Cougars softball team.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: New BYU women’s assistant soccer coach hired. The Daily Universe. 2017-01-13.
  2. Web site: Magleby hired as assistant women's soccer coach. Deseret News. 2018-01-25.
  3. Web site: BYU WOMEN'S SOCCER WELCOMES TASHA BELL TO THE COACHING STAFF. BYU athletics. 2023-08-02.
  4. Web site: Big 12 Legacy Members Welcome BYU, Newcomers To Conference. KSL.com. 2023-07-01.
  5. Web site: BYU women’s soccer falls to North Carolina in College Cup Sweet 16 . Provo Daily Herald. 2022-11-19.
  6. Web site: 2023 Big 12 Soccer Conference Schedule Released. Big 12 Sports. 2023-05-15.
  7. Web site: BYUtv Sports preparing for jump to Big 12 with ESPN, Fox. Provo Daily Herald. 2023-07-06.
  8. Web site: BYU Women’s Soccer Schedule Features Defending Champion UCLA In Provo. KSL.com. 2023-06-01.
  9. Web site: No. 13 BYU women’s soccer wins opener vs. No. 21 Saint Louis 3-2. Daily Herald. 2023-08-17.
  10. Web site: BYU women’s soccer blows past Cal State Fullerton. Daily Herald. 2023-08-19.
  11. Web site: No. 11 BYU women’s soccer blanks Long Beach State. Daily Herald. 2023-08-24.
  12. Web site: BYU roundup: Cougars stay undefeated in women’s soccer, women’s volleyball. Daily Herald. 2023-08-27.
  13. Web site: No. 7 BYU women’s soccer shocks No. 1 UCLA, 3-1. Daily Herald. 2023-08-31.
  14. Web site: No. 7 BYU women’s soccer gets revenge on UVU. Daily Herald. 2023-09-02.
  15. Web site: Top-ranked BYU soccer easily handles Utah in rivalry match. Deseret News. 2023-09-10.
  16. Web site: BYU women’s soccer ranked No. 1 for first time. Provo Daily Herald. 2023-09-05.