MANSFIELD, Texas — Top-seeded BYU women’s soccer (12-3-4, 8-1-2 Big 12) advanced to the Big 12 Soccer Tournament Semifinals after tying West Virginia 1-1 and advancing on penalty kicks, 4-2.
Sophie Sivulich scored BYU’s lone goal in today’s match, with Mia Goettsche and Lucy Kesler picking up assists.
The Mountaineers scored with nine seconds remaining to send the match into overtime. After two scoreless overtime periods, the teams went to a penalty kick shootout. BYU goalkeeper Chelsea Peterson blocked one WVU PK, while another missed high over the crossbar to secure the 4-2 win.
First Half
In the fifth minute, BYU saw its first opportunity on goal when Presley Freeman found Mika Krommenhoek on a run up the middle of the pitch. Krommenhoek played the ball into the box, narrowly missing Emma Hamberlin's feet in front of the net.
Sivulich came out aggressive up top for the Cougars, firing two shots from outside the 18-yard box in the first five minutes.
West Virginia countered in the seventh minute with a run down the left side of the pitch and two shots of its own, one missing wide and the other hitting the post.
Krommenhoek found Goettsche inside the six-yard box in the 12th minute for another scoring opportunity, but Goettsche's shot sailed over the crossbar.
Just two minutes later, Sivulich collected a pass from Kesler and sent a low shot toward the near post, slipping the ball past the goalkeeper to put BYU up 1-0.
In the 26th minute, the Mountaineers earned back-to-back corner kicks. BYU's backline cleared the first, while the second sailed wide for a Cougar goal kick.
Freshmen Sydney Snow and Kate Fuller connected in the 34th minute at the top of the box. Fuller fired a long-range shot that was scooped up by the West Virginia goalkeeper.
The Cougars controlled possession for much of the final 10 minutes, keeping the ball in their attacking half as they carried a 1-0 lead into the break.
Leading 1-0 at halftime, BYU recorded seven shots, with two on target, while West Virginia tallied 10 shots, also putting two on frame.
Second Half
BYU opened the second half with back-to-back corner kicks in the first three minutes, but both resulted in West Virginia goal kicks.
In the 51st minute, Sivulich was brought down in the box, prompting a penalty kick call. However, the call was overturned following a West Virginia VAR challenge.
Afton Perry fired a low shot from outside the 18-yard box in the 52nd minute, narrowly missing wide of the left post.
In the 69th minute, the Mountaineers earned a free kick just outside the left side of the box, forcing goalkeeper Paiton Collins off her line to collect the ball in the air.
West Virginia increased its offensive pressure, forcing BYU to defend in its own box as the Mountaineers added three more shots. Fuller responded with a shot on goal in the 81st minute, earning the Cougars a corner kick.
With three minutes remaining, West Virginia fired a shot from the top of the box, but Avery Friechknecht blocked the attempt to deny the Mountaineers a scoring opportunity.
With nine seconds remaining, the Mountaineers buried a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box to equalize and force overtime. Under the Big 12 Tournament format, overtime consists of two 10-minute periods with a golden-goal rule, meaning the first team to score wins. If neither team scores, the match is decided by penalty kicks.
Overtime
In the 95th minute, a BYU foul gave West Virginia a free kick from the right side of the pitch. The ball deflected off several Cougar players and out for a corner kick, which BYU's defense cleared.
Neither team recorded a shot on goal during the first overtime period, sending the match into a second 10-minute period.
West Virginia opened the second overtime period with a shot from 20 yards out, sailing just over the crossbar. Another shot just a minute later was blocked by the stomach of Bella Woods.
In the 103rd minute, Mattyn Summers-Oviatt found Perry on the left side of the pitch. Perry fired a shot that forced a diving save from the West Virginia goalkeeper.
With neither team finding the back of the net through two overtime periods, the match was decided by penalty kicks.
Penalty Kick Shootout
Woods converted first for BYU, while Peterson made a diving save to stop WVU’s first attempt.
Both teams converted on their second shots, with Krommenhoek scoring for the Cougars.
Summers-Oviatt snuck her shot narrowly past the keeper for BYU’s third shot, and the Mountaineers scored theirs.
After Perry scored BYU’s fourth, West Virginia missed its final shot high over the crossbar. The Cougars earned a 4-2 shootout edge and advanced to the semifinals of the Big 12 Soccer Tournament.
Up Next:
The Cougars will face No. 4 seed Colorado tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. MT in the Big 12 Soccer Tournament semifinals. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.