BYU women’s soccer opens 2026 season upsetting of No. 9 UCLA

PROVO — BYU women’s soccer opened head coach Jennifer Rockwood’s final season with a bang Wednesday night.

Brynnli Tolbert scored her first collegiate goal with a game-winner in the 60th minute as the Cougars rallied to beat No. 9 UCLA, 2-1 at Wallis Annenberg Stadium in Los Angeles.

The win is the first for BYU (1-0) in Westwood since 1998, snapping the Bruins’ 10-match winning streak in season openers as the Cougars improved to 5-4-2 all-time against the heralded west-coast rival.

“When we come out hard in the first half, we usually play really well in our first game,” Rockwood said after the match. “I’m just really proud. It’s tough to come out against a really good team on the road. But our girls have worked hard, and they had a lot of confidence coming into this game.”

Greg Wrubell’s postgame interview with Head Coach Jennifer Rockwood after the Cougs’ win against UCLA. pic.twitter.com/gPLQ8iVCi7

— BYU Women's Soccer (@byusoccer_w) August 13, 2026

BYU out-shot UCLA 14-10, including seven shots on target and nearly took the early lead when Afton Perry’s in-swinging cross from the left corner met Avery Frischknecht at the back post before her header caromed off Mia Goettsche into the back of the net.

But the goal was rule offsides, one of five such rulings against BYU on the evening.

Instead, the Bruins took the lead through Kara Croone, who sprinted past the back line to finish a through ball from Grace Shank in the 38th minute in front of an announced crowd of 589 fans wearing varying shades of blue.

The Cougars didn’t back down. Mattyn Summers-Oviatt, the senior from Saratoga Springs who has been at BYU since transferring from St. Louis following a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mexico, equalized with a left-footed attempt off a turnover from BYU’s high press in the 42nd minute — one of seven first-half shots by the visitors, which held UCLA to just three.

Tolbert put the Cougars in front for good in the 60th minute. The freshman from Fort Lauderdale, Florida followed up off the back post to record her first collegiate goal after Bella Woods’ free kick glanced off Ellie Walbruch’s header attempt before causing a fracas in front of goal that Tolbert cooly converted through four defensive players for the 2-1 advantage.

“Brynnli played outside back for us all spring,” Rockwood said, “but she’s just such a versatile player that we can move her anywhere. She was fantastic, super special tonight; she should be playing more minutes at that outside wing spot.”

Brynnli puts the Cougs ahead, 2-1

📺 https://t.co/eOhCvavmbG pic.twitter.com/NJ86tHNHvh

— BYU Women's Soccer (@byusoccer_w) August 13, 2026

Chelsea Peterson, the senior from Orem who had previously retired from soccer following a church mission and transfer from the University of Utah, made two saves to earn the win in goal.

The Cougars’ upset of the Bruins highlighted the first day collegiate soccer, both locally and nationally. In addition to BYU’s win, Weber State played to a scoreless draw on the road at the University of Utah; Pac-12 favorites Utah State lost 2-0 at No. 15 Kansas; Utah Tech opened its first season in the Big Sky with a 1-1 draw at UC Irvine; and Southern Utah dropped a 3-1 result at College of Charleston.

Utah Valley opens the season Thursday night, hosting Michigan at 7 p.m. MT at UCCU Stadium.

Up next for BYU women’s soccer

BYU continues its two-match opening road trip next Wednesday, Aug. 19 at another Big Ten foe in No. 22 Wisconsin. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT at Dan McClimon Memorial Soccer Complex in Madison and streamed live on Big Ten+.

The Cougars’ home opener is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 22 against USC (7 p.m. MT, ESPN+), the first of four straight home games before wrapping up nonconference play Sept. 10 at Utah State.