Loyal Cougars

Top returner Michele Murphy out for season

Coming into the season after a captivating Elite Eight run in the 2012 NCAA Tournament, BYU’s women’s soccer team knew it would have to replace plenty of talent.

The Cougars will now have to replace one more key cog only three games into 2013.

Sophomore Michele Murphy is done for the season after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament in the Cougars’ 4-2 win at then-No. 25 Louisiana State. Murphy, whose eight goals and seven assists tied senior Carlee Payne Holmoe for 23 points as a freshman, injured her knee in the second half of the Tigers’ comeback attempt. The non-contact injury will require surgery in two weeks, according to a source.

“It’s a huge loss for our team,” BYU coach Jennifer Rockwood said of Murphy’s injury. “She’s someone who is vital in the attack.

“She’s one of the most positive, hard-working players we have on the team. We feel horrible for her. It’s always tough when you can’t play the game you love. She’s worked so hard this summer to prepare for the season.”

The 2011-12 Gatorade Utah girls soccer player of the year, Murphy started in all 24 games as a freshman. She registered one assist with six shots on goal to start 2013, when the freshmen and sophomores would be counted on heavily to replace the departing talent.

The 5-foot-5 Alta High graduate will likely use her redshirt this season, because she didn’t play in the NCAA-minimum number of games due to injury.

“It’s part of the game, and you have to adjust to it,” Rockwood said. “The same thing happened to us last year, losing some great players at the beginning of the season. But we had younger players step up, and that’s what they do. I’m sure we will have younger players step up and fill in those minutes that we lost.”

2 Comments

  1. Sanpete

    September 6, 2013 at 9:19 pm

    They missed her tonight, the attack not quite as dangerous. A big loss.

  2. Phil Spackman

    September 6, 2013 at 9:52 pm

    They did miss her tonight. But they also looked a little sluggish. I think the LSU game took a lot of them. Losing Jaden Thornock on a terrible Red card call was also a big blow. But once again Erica Owens came up big in the second half.