Under the lights at South Field in Provo, a defensive battle unfolded that showcased the grit and determination of Mountain West soccer. BYU's Ellie Walbruch became the hero of the night, striking gold in the 13th minute with an unassisted goal that would prove to be the match's only tally. Despite UCLA's relentless offensive pressure—outshooting the Cougars 19-11 and earning five corner kicks—BYU's defense stood tall, with goalkeeper Paiton Collins delivering crucial saves when it mattered most. The Bruins, who controlled much of the possession and created numerous scoring opportunities, found themselves frustrated by a disciplined BYU backline that bent but never broke.
The second half saw UCLA throw everything forward in search of an equalizer, with Emma Egizii, Bella Winn, and Lexi Wright leading the charge. The Bruins peppered the BYU goal with shots from every angle, but Collins remained unbeatable between the posts. As the clock ticked down, the home crowd of 3,530 grew louder with each defensive clearance, willing their team to hold on. When the final whistle blew, BYU had secured a statement victory, improving to 1-0-1 while handing UCLA their first loss of the young season. The result proved that sometimes in soccer, clinical finishing trumps territorial dominance—one moment of individual brilliance from Walbruch was all it took to separate these two competitive sides.
Key Players:
- Ellie Walbruch (BYU) - Match winner with the game's only goal in the 13th minute
- Paiton Collins (BYU) - Stellar performance in goal, making 3 crucial saves to preserve the shutout
- Emma Egizii (UCLA) - Led UCLA's attack with multiple shots and created several dangerous opportunities
- Daphne Nakfoor (UCLA) - Made 2 saves despite conceding the early goal, kept UCLA in the match