BYU Cougars Secure Upset Victory Over UCLA Bruins with 1-0 Win
The BYU Cougars soccer team, ranked 19th, secured a remarkable upset victory against the 4th-ranked UCLA Bruins with a 1-0 win at home. Ellie Walbruch scored the lone goal from a penalty kick in the 14th minute, while the Cougar defense held off the Bruins' strong offense for the remainder of the game. The victory improved BYU's record to 2-0-1 for the season.
Despite UCLA goalkeeper Daphne Nakfoor correctly predicting Walbruch's shot direction, the ball found the back of the net. Paiton Collins, the Cougars' goalkeeper, made three crucial saves to maintain a clean sheet and secure the win. This victory marked BYU's second win of the season, both against ranked opponents, following their earlier win against then-No. 24 Minnesota.
BYU managed to secure the win despite being outshot by UCLA, with the Bruins taking 19 shots compared to BYU's 11. Both teams had three shots on goal, but the Cougars' defense held strong. UCLA also had more corner kicks, with 11 compared to BYU's six. The Cougars will face the Auburn Tigers at home next Friday, while the Bruins will take on Long Beach State at home on the same night.