MORAGA, Calif. – It was a fierce back-and-forth tussle Saturday afternoon at Saint Mary's Stadium, which saw Saint Mary's earn their first ever shutout against BYU in a scoreless draw.
 
MIDFIELD MAESTROS
Saint Mary's began the game on the front foot, opting to counter attack the slower, more methodical Cougars offense. Goalkeeper Taylor Poland was busy early in the match, forced to make a tricky save just six minutes in. 
 
Both teams were very evenly matched through the first fifteen minutes, and it was the Gaels midfield duo of Emily Jensen and Emma Barthel that dictated those early minutes. Neither side were able to create solid scoring opportunities, as both squads defended their final third stoutly. Alessandra Towle was the standout in defense for the Gaels, swallowing every tackle that came her way. 
 
SECOND HALF INTENSITY
With both sides having defended well in the first half, the intensity quickly ramped up at the start of the second half. The Cougars began to the commit more players forward, and the Gaels continued to try and exploit BYU on the counter attack. 
 
Nayeli Diaz and Tessa Salvestrin were the two Gaels that brought the unrelenting offensive pressure, connecting on a great run into the Cougars penalty box in the 52^nd minute before eventually being called offsides. Salvestrin continued to be a thorn in the side of the BYU defense throughout the rest of the game, charging down balls but ultimately unable to create any end product. 
 
Taylor Poland was busy throughout the second half, and was called into action again in the 61^st minute after a dangerous BYU freekick found the penalty box. It wouldn't be the last time Poland would be called upon, making numerous clutch saves down the stretch.
 
The small chances continued to come for both sides, and one of the best chances of the game for the Gaels came in the 79^th minute via a left footed rocket from Emma Barthel. Despite plenty of power behind the shot, it was right at the BYU keeper who comfortably caught the ball. 
 
Saint Mary's best counter attack of the game came through Tessa Salvestrin, who flicked the ball into the stride of Camryn Cruz. Cruz charged through the midfield and forced a solid shot, but it ultimately glanced wide of the scrambling BYU keeper's net in the end. 
 
DEFENSIVE DUTIES
The Cougars began to force the Gaels back into their half over the last ten minutes of the match, pressing for a winner. Despite three offsides calls in quick succession, BYU continued to bring the pressure. Taylor Poland brought the heroics one final time, making a fantastic right footed save as the ball bounced around the Gaels penalty box in the 89^th minute. Despite a few tense seconds, the Saint Mary's back line remained composed, spurred on by Poland's clutch save. 
 
UP NEXT
Saint Mary's are set to battle LMU at home on Saturday October 8 at 1 pm as conference plays begins to ramp up.