PROVO, Utah — The No. 11 BYU women’s soccer team shut out Utah State on Saturday evening at South Field, with true freshman Mia Goettsche earning her first-ever collegiate brace.
"You always want to see how your team reacts after a tough loss, and I thought the girls bounced back really well,” said head coach Jennifer Rockwood. “The girls got off to a fantastic start and had two great goals from Mia [Goettsche] coming off the bench. Manny Martins has done a fantastic job at Utah State and we’ve had a hard time with the Aggies the past few years, so it was a great opportunity for us to come out and get a good win.”
Goettsche scored within the first minute of being subbed in to the match to lead 1-0 at the 17-minute mark, and followed with a header for her second goal at the 33- minute mark.
True Freshman midfielder Kate Denney also earned her first collegiate start.
Though scoreless, the Aggies totaled 23 shots to BYU's 12. It was the most shots BYU faced by an opponent this season, and earned the Aggies a new season-high.
First Half
Both teams maintained control of the ball early on, but Utah State would be the first to take three consecutive shots within the first ten minutes of the match, with all being off target.
BYU’s first shot came off the left foot of Mia Lopez at the top of the box, but the ball sailed nearly over the crossbar at the 15 minute mark.
The Cougar offense remained assertive, with Mika Krommenhoek tapping the ball towards Goettsche’s area for the first goal of the evening, BYU now leading 1-0 just two minutes later. It would be Goettsche’s second career goal as a true freshman.
Utah State followed with three more shots, with BYU’s goalkeeper Paiton Collins grabbing a save in the bottom-left of the net during one of them.
Lopez fired off another cannon roughly 20 yards out, with the ball striking the crossbar on the head. Ellie Walbruch also found an opening on offense, but the ball sailed to the left of the net at the 29 minute mark.
BYU did not take its foot off the gas as Goestteche earned another goal for BYU off a header, with an assist from Halle Dixon for the Cougars to take a 2-0 lead at the 33 minute mark. It would be the second time a Cougar earned a brace this season, and first time from a freshman in 2025.
Cougars Mackenzee Vance and Ella Labrum also subbed in for their first minutes of the season towards the closing minutes of the first half.
The score would remain 2-0 for BYU, heading into halftime. BYU totaled six shots with Utah State putting up eight.
Second Half
Utah State struck first in the second half as well, with three being off target. Krommenhoek would then take BYU’s first shot at the 59 minute mark, but the ball got blocked.
The Aggies peppered five more shots within five minutes, with three of them blocked by BYU’s defenders. Emma Neff would deflect one of Utah State’s attempts at the 72 minute mark.
With ten minutes left in the match, Utah State would have 21 total shots without a successful attempt as the Cougar defense remained unphased.
BYU’s Lopez posted her third shot of the evening at the 83 minute mark, but the ball sailed over the top of the crossbar. Vance then nutmegged a Utah State defender for another opportunity at a third BYU goal late at the 86 minute mark, but the ball flew wide to the left.
The match concluded 2-0 after BYU dominated possession in the last five minutes of the second half.
Up Next
BYU remains in Provo to face UVU on Friday, September 12 at 7 p.m. MDT on South Field, with live coverage on ESPN+.