For BYU forward Zach DeFrancis, finding ways to beat his defenders and create open looks at the goal is something that comes naturally.

"Zach's got velcro on his feet basically." BYU coach Chris Watkins said. "The ball really stays to his feet really well and he's really crafty."

DeFrancis first struck shortly after the forty-minute mark in the first half when fellow forward Garrett Losee found him with a pass that snuck by the Spokane goal keep for the first goal of the game and the 1-0 Cougar lead.

With time running down in the first half, BYU's Curtis Graham was fouled hard by a Spokane defender within ten feet of the goal and the Cougars were given a penalty kick before the half. DeFrancis stepped up for the penalty kick and found the back of the net to give the Cougars the 2-0 lead heading into the halftime break.

"It was really nice to get those two goals early." Watkins added.

Due to several key injuries, the Cougar defense was vulnerable and shorthanded and the Spiders were able to get several good and open looks at the Cougar goal. But strong play from Cougar goal keep, Brandon Gilliam, kept the Spiders from finding the back of the net for the majority of the contest.

The Spiders struggled to stay onsides in the game, as they suffered through six off sides penalties which negated several one-on-one situations with the Cougar goalie. Spokane got several open looks in the first half but sent the shots off the crossbar of the goal.

"Defensively, we just give up too many looks; we've got a ways to go." Watkins said. "This is not a team (defensively) that I really recognize right now."

Spokane's offense turned on the aggressiveness in the second half and at some points sent extra men down the field for a chance at an open look at the goal, but the Cougars were able to slow down the Spiders attack and limit their shots in the second half.

"Mainly (in the second half) we were just trying to keep the ball and make them chase us, and for the most part we did that." Watkins added.

Spokane picked up its first and only goal of the game when Keith Realing found the back of the net just before the referee blew the whistle signaling the end of the contest.

The Cougar victory keeps their hopes alive for a qualifying spot in the U.S. Open Cup.

• BYU track and field: At Fort Worth, Texas, After three solid days of competition, the BYU men's team withstood an expected charge on the final day by host TCU to win the 2008 Mountain West Conference Outdoor Track Field Championship. The victory marks a BYU record 11th straight league title, including nine straight MWC championships.

"Each year is a little different -- it never gets old," BYU head men's coach Mark Robison said. "There are always new challenges to overcome, and there's always something different, but it's always nice to win the conference championship. We have a great group of young men. I'm really proud of them for coming out here and competing."

The BYU women also withstood a surge from both San Diego State and TCU on the final day of competition to take second place behind a senior-laden squad from Colorado State. The Cougars finished just 46 points behind the Rams and 15 points ahead of third-place San Diego State. TCU finished fourth in the women's competition with 122 points, followed by New Mexico in fifth with 78 points. Utah finished sixth with 58 points, Wyoming came in seventh with 46 points, UNLV was eighth with 35 points and Air Force finished ninth with 26 points.

• BYU softball: Chapel Hill, N.C., the BYU women's softball team closed the 2008 season after falling to No. 23 Georgia 4-0 in the NCAA Chapel Hill Regional Championship.

The Cougars' were unable to gain momentum offensively during the game. The BYU bats notched only three hits and were struck out four times, as they continued to drive balls to the Georgia defense, which was without error during the game.

"We are disappointed we couldn't get the job done but I'm proud of our team," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "Our seniors did a good job of guiding our young team and we have a bright future. You have got to give a lot of credit to Georgia. They stuck it to us twice, and they are a great team. "