Information in the story may be outdated After one yearincluding a frigid winterin Rexburg, Idaho, Rockwood made the leap to BYU. Kayla and Cameron have the reins to do a lot of things. 1 seed in the NCAA College Cup, the first women's program at BYU to ever be awarded a 1-seed. But what a blessed life and what a ride it has been. What have I gotten myself into? she recalls thinking. She helped turn a little-known prospect into a top scorer in the National Womens Soccer League in Ashley Hatch. Im not worthy enough or strong enough. I stopped to watch to see what was going on, and I was hooked. And thats led the way for younger players to come through and wanna reach the success.. We are so blessed to live at the base of majestic mountains. The Cougars are anchored by a defense that includes All-West Regional selection Laveni Vaka and goalkeeper Cassidy Smith, whose 2.14 saves per game and 0.65 goals-against average for .783 save percentage ranks among the top five in BYU history. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Smith-Bretzing couldnt help but laugh when she thought about those early years. I know mine does. I was very shy, she says. Lets try it out.. Our prophet recently challenged all of us to be an example and a light to the world. New episode and podcast released each week, focused on the team the Cougars play. [Stand Ye in Holy Places: Selected Sermons and Writings of President HaroldB. Lee (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1974), 115]. Another way to search for the light is to surround ourselves with individuals who inspire us and lift us to great places. "Jen does a really great job of making every play feel cared for, that they matter, and that it's about them," said Colette Jepson Smith, the former Davis High standout who played three seasons at BYU and is now the head coach at Rowland Hall and Wasatch Soccer Club. Would someone who doesnt know you know that you have the light within you? I must admit that the first thing I thought when asked if I would be willing to speak was, Really? That includes this year's signing class, an eight-member group led by Olympus midfielder Emma Neff, Lone Peak forward Camryn Jorgensen and Davis goalkeeper Taygan Sill, to name a few. We must intentionally use our voices that say, I am strong. Both a mission and an MBA crossed her mind, but then she was offered a position as a coach and PE teacher for a local college-prep academy called the Waterford School. With so much that has been provided for us by a loving Heavenly Father, much is expected. Once I had passed the arrow, I would scan again, trying to find another redlight. This moment, this chance, was the biggest in her coaching career. BYU CLUB RECORD:128-25-9; six years as club coach. The Cougars have a challenge against Santa Clara, their WCC rivals with a 15-5-2 overall record and the reigning national champions. Generally speaking, however, it was also seen as a male sport. While their initial season was not perfect with some bumps along the way, the team finished with 11 wins and a winning record. BYU finished the season after falling in the Elite 8 to No. . She won her 300th game over San Francisco 2-0 on Oct. 10, 2013. Which voices can drown out the darkness and fill our minds and souls with the light? The Cougars were interested in Swensen-Haslam, who during her time with the Bingham Miners was an all-state forward. _ Article written by Rachel Evensen Photos by Bradley Slade Tags Summer 2017 Leading Alumni Business Management Alumni Magazine Leading Alumni Everybody knows more than you do about your job. There were many likely talking about the upcoming football season for the Cougars and their excitement for a team led by quarterback Steve Sarkisian. I am sure that we all have worked extremely hard and sacrificed much to be a part of this BYU community. To this day, the only sport I really watch is BYU womens soccer. Years ago President JamesE. Faust gave a talk titled The Light in Their Eyes. He recalled a historic meeting in Jerusalem about the new lease for the land on which the BYU Jerusalem Center would be built. It is called the Ragnar Relay Series, and each team consists of two vans, with six people packed into each van. Im really excited for them to take their skills and their passions on to the next level, and see how they are doing.. Rockwood started with a good group of girls, and then they only went up from there.. In 1995 BYU officially recognized women's soccer as an NCAA sport. But I think for me personally, I was like maybe this is what I am supposed to be doing because it doesnt make sense that we are having all of this success.. BYU and Florida State traded goals back and forth, with a few occasional misses sprinkled in. In her 27 years as head coach, Rockwood's Cougars have made the NCAA tournament 21 times. During the run it was important to stay strong, positive, and confident, even though there were continual doubts. Head coach Jennifer Rockwood, known for her focused determination on the sideline and for being emotionally defensive of her players, leaned in to anticipate the shot. [1] Early life Its kind of weird, huh? Rockwood said, noting all of the accomplishments over her wall, But when you kinda think about it, we feel very blessed. In fact, I first met several of the current players on our team at camp when they were only ten or eleven years old. An excerpt from this week's episode of True Blue, Dave McCann talks to Jennifer Rockwood and Erica Owens about the expectations coming into next season, and . Here are some words of wisdom that I believe They want us to know, to repeat to ourselves, and toalways remember: You are a beautiful child of God, made inHis perfect image. Even then you can sit on the wall on a warm summer day and think of the things you are still learning in light of the great experience you had. "Honestly, Jen has been awesome. It is very hard to describe. Provo, UT 84602 After a back and forth match which saw the Cougars outshoot the Seminoles 9-7 including a 4-3 advantage in shots on goal both teams remained scoreless. A national championship was within their grasp. I think the least we could do for her was put together a good performance and take her to some place she's never been before.". I will be strong To me it emphasizes the importance of making a personal commitment to stay strong in our faith. What an amazing opportunity it is to stand before you today. I know that our Heavenly Father and our Savior are our biggest fans. I think she probably felt overwhelmed by what it all means.. Ive always had a work ethic, and I was always very competitive, she says. We have more responsibilities, more pressures, more expectations, and more places to be, and we spend far too much time on our smartphones. A visit to the basketball tryouts for Ricks College landed her a spot on the team there as well as a scholarship offer. It is even becoming apparent that those who choose to follow the light are often mocked, ridiculed, and looked down upon. This new team was understaffed and had a limited number of fans due to a lack of exposure or interest in womens sports as a whole. After three years of teaching PE for Meridian, Rockwood went to the headmaster and asked for a chance to try teaching in the classroom. Does your life seem too busy at times? It was a slow process, we didnt get a bunch of fans, Norma Bertoch said, the first sports information director for the program. So, I decided, What have I got to lose? After participating in basketball in the Fall-winter of 198485, Rockwood transferred and enrolled at Brigham Young University. BYU women's soccer head coach Jennifer Rockwood reached her 400th win at BYU on March 6 against Loyola Marymount, putting her among the winningest coaches in the NCAA. I expect to be the best, and when Im not, I try to learn how I can be better.. Be kind to yourself so that you can be kind toothers. Inside was a beautiful hand-knitted blanket with the full BYU Cougar logo in the middle. We want to walk in the light. Just as the sun, the moon, and the stars light the landscape of this beautiful world, the light from above provides us with direction and purpose. She could not believe the opportunity in front of her. archived form does not constitute a republication of the story. As a child in Chile, she watched soccer every day. I can do this. I had to stop a few times to shine my headlamp around for fear that I was off of the course. So much of the time, we need that little spark to keep us going.. Rockwood has guided the Cougars to 13regular season conference championships and eight conference tournament championships during her tenure. BYU stood at the top of her list when college admissions rolled around; it was her parents alma mater, and she had attended basketball camp there. - Sat 2/25 8:00 pm. Though intimidated by her new role, Rockwood didnt break stride, taking on the new challenge in the same way she always had: by working her hardest. Evidently they had been following my light all the way in. As a coach, I am in a position in which difficult decisions have to be made that can significantly impact young peoples lives. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Now the Kaysville, Utah, native will take her talents to the professional ranks. I will be brave Rockwood, BYU Radio Live play-by-play broadcasts, coaches shows, Behind the Mic press conferences, interviews, etc, 407-118-45record and a .714win percentage, Fifth in NCAA DI in active winning percentage, 11th in NCAA DI in activecareer victories, 14th in NCAA DI all-time career victories, Four-time WCC Coach of the Year 2012,2014,2018 and 2019, Two-time MWC Coach of the Year 2000 and 2008, Two-time West Region Coach of the Year 1996 and 2012, 2019 United Soccer Coaches Regional Staff of the Year, Earned BYU its first national seed in the NCAA tournament in 2005 (No. Are you an example of the Savior in your words, thoughts, and actions? Just shy of her 30th year overseeing the program and two years removed from BYU's entry into the Big 12 Rockwood has put it all together for a historic run leading up to Friday night's run-in with reigning national champion Santa Clara. As you can imagine, it was a bit disconcerting, and it was very challenging to stay on the path. Jennifer Rockwood and the origins of the BYU women's soccer team Story and cover art by Alex Dotson This story is part of the March 2022 issue of The Daily Universe Magazine and magazine show (below). "In many ways, losing to Utah State may have saved their season," Smith said. Back then we had to do everything on our own. Reading or replaying the story in its As we follow the example of the Savior, ours will be the opportunity to be a light, as it were, in the lives of those around uswhether they be our own family members, our coworkers, mere acquaintances, or total strangers. I just had the chance to be in a leadership position at a very young age, having no experience and learning as I went.. In the College Cup Final, the Cougars met another one seed in the Florida State Seminoles. She will likely be joined by Tucker, her teammate and close friend. Can I really do this?. "We are thrilled to have Ellie coming to BYU," said head coach Jennifer Rockwood. 2021 Women's College Cup preview, ahead of semifinals, Marriott Center I remember Ken Marshall, a high school soccer coach who taught me to push myself, work harder, and achieve more than I thought was possible. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. After Olivia Wade found the back of the net to tie the shootout at 3-3, FSUs Yujie Zhao stood at the line with a simple conclusion: make it and become a national champion, or miss and give the Cougars a chance. At first I thought, Oh, thats thoughtful of himhes concerned about my foot. But I soon realized that he just didnt want me to slow down the team. It actually came to a point at which I had to make the decision to ask her to leave the team. overrideCardHideSection= I had to intently search for the light of others to help me find the way and point me in the right direction. March 10, 2016 Name: Jennifer Rockwood BYU employee since: 1989 My job is. "I have worked pretty much my whole career to get to this point and I am just going to try to enjoy it," she said. Rockwood led the club team to a 128-25-9 record, two Western National Collegiate Club Soccer Association titles and second place in the NCCSA National Championship match. [BYU] came to me because I had kind of been the boss, in a sense, of the team before that, she says. "But it's not just their mentality. overrideTextAlignment= 14 BYU at 4-2 on the season, and 400-116-44 under the long-time head coach. She graduated with a degree in Communications and began her career working in broadcasting, including working for CNN and KBYU-TV. BYU women's soccer coach Jennifer Rockwood has coached a lot of great teams, but this one may end up being her best ever. After 23 NCAA Tournament appearances, seven Sweet 16 runs and four Elite Eight finishes, BYU women's soccer coach Jennifer Rockwood finally broke through with the program she helped build from scratch, culminating in the Cougars' first-ever NCAA College Cup semifinal appearance Friday at a sold-out Stevens Stadium in Santa Clara, California (7:30 p.m. MT, ESPNU). After participating in basketball in the Florida State Seminoles have saved their season, and I was hooked called Ragnar! Soon realized that he just didnt want me to slow down the team am.! Little-Known prospect into a top scorer in the right direction, trying to find another redlight make! Right direction her career working in broadcasting, including working for CNN and KBYU-TV there continual... Are often mocked, ridiculed, and confident, even though there were likely! And the reigning National champions even becoming apparent that those who choose to follow the light has... 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