This post was updated Nov. 24 at 2:53 p.m.
Facing a familiar opponent in the postseason is a story ripe for revenge.
But the Bruins fell short of that goal tonight.
No. 4 seed UCLA women’s soccer (12-5-4, 6-2-3 Big Ten) fell to No. 5 seed BYU (11-6-6, 4-5-2 Big 12) 2-4 in penalty kicks following a 1-1 double overtime stalemate Friday night at Stanford’s Laird Q. Cagan Stadium and will not advance to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins failed to best the Cougars yet again following their 1-0 loss on Aug. 23.
The 110 minutes on the pitch were not enough to define the outcome, and the match went to penalty kicks.
UCLA started the shootout with two missed attempts, and a perfect four scored by BYU sealed the game. Former Bruin Ellie Walbruch, a member of the 2022 National Championship team, scored the Cougars’ second penalty and put the nail in the coffin for the Bruins’ season.
The Cougars are no strangers to penalty kicks – BYU narrowly secured its second-round berth following an 11-round penalty kick bout against Utah State just one week ago.
The game came to life after 70 scoreless minutes of play, as BYU midfielder Mika Krommenhoek whipped a cross into the box. Defender Mattyn Summers-Oviatt lept to head the ball down into the back of the net, granting the Cougars a 1-0 lead.
Ten minutes later, redshirt senior midfielder Emma Egizii responded, launching a shot that was blocked by a pair of BYU defenders before volleying the rebound into the back of the net to level the game at 1-1 with under 10 minutes left in regulation.
“We went into these final weeks of the season with the mindset that regardless of what happens, we are going to score, and we are going to come back,” said senior forward America Frias. “I am proud of everyone for fully buying in.”
Despite the final result, the Bruins outshot the Cougars 27 to 17. The offensive dominance displayed UCLA’s depth, with nine players taking chances.
But BYU displayed greater accuracy with nine shots on goal that prompted eight saves from UCLA freshman goalkeeper Daphne Nakfoor.
Coach Margueritte Aozasa labeled forward Leena Powell the most effective player on the night. The freshman logged five shots – second only to Egizii – and contributed 101 minutes of playtime.
“I am a very creative player, and I like to dribble. I like to go at players,” Powell said. “I am proud of myself for going out there and doing everything I can.”
Cougar goalkeeper Chelsea Peterson logged a close save in the 29th minute, tipping the ball over the crossbar after a header from Powell, her best chance of the night.
The junior goalkeeper played her fifth full match of the season Friday, having started the season as the third-string and earned the starting bid following goalkeeper Paiton Collins’ ACL tear on Oct. 30. Undefeated in her seven appearances, Peterson saved three penalties that would have ended the game in their first round NCAA Tournament game against Utah State on Nov. 14.
The Cougars earned the first yellow card of the match in the 70th minute after senior forward Lily Boyden was tackled to the ground. It was followed up just a minute later by a yellow card on UCLA senior forward Bridgette Marin-Valencia.
Despite multiple slides and shoves going uncalled, the physicality of the game was further reflected in the 22 combined fouls between the two sides. The Bruins have been no stranger to physicality this season, having outfouled their opponents 231 to 188 on the season.
“I do not think it was a sloppy game or a dirty game,” Aozasa said. “Everybody’s fighting to keep their season alive.”
UCLA’s loss against BYU in August kickstarted an eight-game undefeated streak. This time around, the Bruins do not have another game to bounce back as this loss closes out their 2025 campaign.
