The Cougars outshot the Knights 20-5, with eight shots on frame compared to UCF’s three. BYU’s offensive press forced UCF’s goalkeeper to make seven saves.

Mia Lopez is now the second-highest goal-scorer for the Cougars, with five on the year. Abbi Sine tallied her first-ever assist on the Lopez goal, while Mika Krommenhoek added her sixth of the season.

First Half

The Cougars held the ball in their offensive half to start the match, but conceded a goal in the ninth minute of play, going down 1-0 early.

Junior Ellie Walbruch responded quickly with a left-footed shot that narrowly missed the goal. Izzi Stratton followed with a shot of her own, straight into the arms of UCF’s goalkeeper.

In the 18th minute, UCF found an opening in the BYU backline and notched its second goal of the game, taking an early 2-0 lead. The Knights had two goals on two shots despite the Cougars holding the ball for much of the first half.

With under two minutes to play in the first half, Halle Dixon beat her defender and curled a shot into the upper 90, punched over the top by UCF’s keeper. Despite the final push by the Cougars, they went into the locker room down 2-0 to the Knights.

BYU outshot UCF 10-2 in the first half, forcing four saves by the UCF goalkeeper.

Second Half

Paiton Collins was tested early with a chance by UCF in the second minute of the second half, a long ball to the far post that she was able to collect and send forward.

Walbruch fired off a shot in the 51st minute after cutting inside the 18-yard box, collected by the Knights’ keeper.

The Cougars found more opportunities in the first 20 minutes of the second half with shots by Stratton, Mika Krommenhoek, Mia Goettsche and Walbruch, testing UCF’s keeper and forcing her to make three more saves.

In the 80th minute, Abbi Sine sent a left-footed cross into the box that Krommenhoek flicked forward with her head. With nobody around her, Mia Lopez tapped the ball past UCF’s keeper for a late Cougar goal, bringing the score to 2-1.

With just over four minutes left to play, Emma Hamberlin had a shot to tie the game, but hit the ball over the goal.

Despite a final push by the Cougars, they were unable to put another ball in the net, falling to the Knights 2-1.

Up Next

The Cougars will play their final match of the regular season against in-state rival Utah on Thursday at 7 p.m. MT at Ute Field.