BYU
BASEBALL: Catcher Lars Birkeland of BYU was named to the 2001 NBC (National Baseball Congress) World Series All-America Team last week.
Birkeland, a senior from Salt Lake City, played for the Orange County (California) Scorpions in the 48-team tourney at Wichita, Kan. He was 10 of 19 from the plate for a .526 batting average during the tournament. Also playing in that tourney from the Cougars were Justin Su'a and Jeff Hiestand and UVSC transfer Mike Weingarten, all of whom played for the Samoan National Team.
SUU
WOMEN'S SOCCER: Southern Utah's women's soccer team recorded a shutout in its first-ever game in defeating Mesa State, 1-0, in an exhibition match Friday afternoon in Cedar City.
Freshman forward Lindsey Boyer supplied the T-Birds' lone goal at the 42:15 mark of the first half off a centering pass from junior Megan Anderson. The Thunderbirds were outshot 13-9, with the goalkeeper combination of Lyndsey Sobrero and Megan Flowers combining for seven saves, including six by Flowers. "I was pleased with the way we played and the effort our players gave us today," coach Brian Stock said. "We got the butterflies and the jitters out early and we were able to settle down and play well."
The T-Birds open the regular season next Friday at Northern Arizona, followed by their inaugural home opener Sept. 3 against William Penn.