AUSTIN, Texas – No. 6 BYU women’s soccer overcame an early first-half deficit to beat No. 14 Texas 3-2 on Thursday night in the Cougars’ first comeback win of the season.
With today’s win, the Cougars are 9-1-1 this season and 2-0-1 in Big 12 conference play.
“It was an exciting game against Texas tonight,” said head coach Jennifer Rockwood. “We got off to a bit of a slow start, which you can’t do against a team like Texas that is as dangerous and likes to attack as we do. It was a great matchup, but I thought our girls fought really hard and found a way. Erin Bailey won the game phenomenally and in the end we were able to win the game.”
BYU recorded more shots against Texas than any other team this season, outscoring the Longhorns 23-14 and forcing goaltender Mia Justus to make a season-high nine saves. In a very stressful game, 22 fouls were called, 15 of which were against Texas. Both teams recorded eight corners on the night.
Ellie Walbruch, Olivia Wade-Katoa and Erin Bailey scored the goals against the Longhorns tonight, with assists from Olivia Smith-Griffitts, Brecken Mozingo, Kendell Petersen and Tara Warner. Bailey now leads her team with seven goals.
First half
With the fifth minute on the field, BYU’s Mozingo picked the ball up the court and sent it to Allie Fryer, who fired a shot that was blocked by the Texas defense.
Wade-Katoa took another shot for the Cougars, but Texas was able to clear it and mount a counterattack. After a broken play, the Big 12’s leading scorer, Texas forward Lexi Missimo, picked up a ball from her teammate and fired a shot that slipped just under the hands of BYU goalkeeper Lynette Hernaez, giving the Longhorns a 1-0 lead lead.
Following a Longhorn corner kick in the 24th minute, BYU cleared the ball from defense and brought it to the feet of senior forward Bella Folino, who fired a shot from the top of the 18-yard box, forcing the Texas goalkeeper to pass a diving parade.
BYU’s offense continued to press, and just two minutes later Mozingo shot into the box again and tipped over the goal.
In the 35th minute, BYU defenders Petersen and Smith-Griffitts exchanged shots from outside the box, forcing more saves from the Texas goalie.
The Cougars continued to press the Longhorns’ backline as Smith-Griffitts drove the ball down the right side of the field. She sent the ball into the penalty area and found the feet of Walbruch, who turned around her defender and scored the equalizer just before the end of the half in the 43rd minute.
The Cougars outscored the Longhorns 14-4 in the first half and added four corner kicks compared to Texas’ two. BYU went into the locker room tied for the second time this season.
Second half
The Cougars came out of halftime strong, with several shots on the court in the first few minutes. In the 51st minute, Ellie Boren called a foul in the penalty area for BYU’s third penalty of the season. Wade-Katoa wanted to take the lead and shot, but was blocked by Texas goalkeeper Mia Justus.
Just five minutes later, Boren fired a shot from the top of the box that was tipped over by Justus for her seventh save of the night.
During a defensive breakdown in the 61st minute, Texas forward Trinity Byars took the ball into the BYU box and fired a shot, leaning toward the net and narrowly hitting the outside post.
Just a minute after Longhorn’s missed opportunity, BYU was fouled in the 62nd minute and Mozingo lined up to take the free kick on the right side of the 18-yard box. Mozingo sent the ball perfectly into the box and after the ball bounced high off the turf, Wade-Katoa jumped into the air and volleyed the ball into the net, giving the Cougars a 2-1 lead.
Texas responded with a goal of their own in the 66th minute, another from Missimo for their second goal of the night, again tying the game at 2-2.
During a counterattack, Walbruch shot down a cross from Boren with just one touch and narrowly missed the goal.
With just seven minutes left in the game, Petersen sent a through ball to Warner, who took the ball all the way down the left side of the pitch and placed the ball at the top of the penalty area, helping Bailey score a follow-up goal. who sent the ball from the right post into the net with a one-touch.
BYU defeated Texas on the court in the final minutes to pick up its first-ever win at Mike A. Myers Stadium, 3-2.
The Cougars next face Big 12 opponent Cincinnati on Thursday, September 28th at South Field in Provo at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.