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BYU women's soccer celebrates a 1-0 victory against No. 4 UCLA at South Field on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU women's soccer players celebrate a goal scored by Mia Goettsche against Utah State in a match at South Field on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025.

Courtesy BYU Athletics

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BYU and Nebraska’s exhibition contest on Saturday, Oct. 18, at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb. will tip off at 11 a.m. MT on B1G+, the Huskers’ athletic department announced on Thursday afternoon.

Single game tickets for the exhibition contest will go on sale next Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 9 a.m. MT by visiting Huskers.com/Tickets or calling 800-8-BIGRED.

The Cougars are coming off their third Sweet 16 appearance in program history in 2024-25, where head coach Kevin Young led the Cougars to 26 wins, the most by a first-year head coach in program history. First Team All-Big 12 performer Richie Saunders returns for his senior season after averaging a career-high 16.5 points per game while becoming just the fifth player in program history to shoot at least 50.0 percent from the field, 40.0 percent from three and 80.0 percent from the free throw line.

Saunders is joined by the No. 1 recruit in the country, AJ Dybantsa, who spent the summer leading USA Basketball to gold at the FIBA U19 World Cup, being named the Most Valuable Player for his efforts. He is joined by Robert Wright III, a sophomore from Wilmington, Del. who is considered the eighth-best transfer by ESPN.

The Huskers return four players who have made at least 15 starts during their time in Lincoln. All-Big Ten forward Rienk Mast missed all last season but averaged 12.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 2023-24, helping NU reach the NCAA Tournament. One of the best sixth men in the Big Ten is also back for the Huskers as Connor Essegian averaged 10.7 points per game while shooting 38 percent from 3-point range last season.

The exhibition matchup is the first of a home-and-home exhibition series with the Huskers making the return trip to the Marriott Center in 2026.

Cougars lined up for ESPN Big Monday

The Big 12 Conference and ESPN announced that six conference men’s basketball games were selected for Big Monday telecasts. The season marks the 30th season the conference has been showcased on Big Monday as part of a long-standing arrangement with ESPN.

Each of the six games are set for 7 p.m. MT starts on ESPN.

BYU will host Arizona on Jan. 26 at the Marriott Center after the two teams split their meetings in 2025. After dropping an 85-74 decision to the Wildcats in Provo, Richie Saunders hit two free throws in the final seconds to give the Cougars a 96-95 win and their first win streak in Tucson in the series history.

No. 12 BYU women’s soccer hosts Utah Valley

The Cougars close out their five-game homestand Friday evening when Utah Valley visits South Field. The game is set to kick off at 7 p.m. MT and can be streamed on ESPN+.

BYU (4-1-1) played Utah State Saturday evening on South Field, beating the Aggies 2-0 courtesy of freshman Mia Goettsche’s first-ever brace. Goalkeeper Paiton Collins tallied four saves on the night, securing her third shutout of the season and BYU’s third win on South Field. Halle Dixon and Mika Krommenhoek earned assists, while Goettsche, Walbruch and Lopez tallied three shots apiece to lead the Cougars.

Utah Valley (3-2-1, 0-0 WAC) took on Gonzaga Monday evening, beating the Bulldogs 5-3 at UCCU Stadium. After going up 4-0, the Zags stormed back with three goals in a six-minute span to lessen UVU’s lead, 4-3. Ruby Hladek was fouled in the box and converted her penalty kick to secure a 5-3 victory. Hladek had five points with two goals and an assist. Jacey Wood and Faith Webber also tallied goals against the Bulldogs.

BYU has faced UVU nine times previously, with the Cougars leading the overall series 8-1. BYU’s only loss to the Wolverines came in 2022 on South Field. The teams met in an exhibition match ahead of the 2024 season, but faced off in a regular season matchup in 2023 when the Cougars won 6-1.

Goettsche earns Big 12 accolades

BYU freshman Mia Goettsche earned the school’s first Big 12 Freshman of the Week honors this season, the league announced Wednesday.

The Cougars played in two home matches last week, hosting No. 13 Arkansas and Utah State. After falling to the Razorbacks 1-0, BYU bounced back with a 2-0 victory against the Aggies Saturday evening.

Goettsche, a true freshman from Eastvale, California, came in the game against Utah State in the 16th minute after teammate Sophie Sivulich went down with an injury. Just one minute after entering the match, Goettsche scored off a flick from Izzi Stratton.

In the 33rd minute, Goettsche rocketed a header into the back of the net off a cross from Halle Dixon for her first collegiate brace and the only two goals of the match.

Goettsche now has two game-winning goals this season, one against Utah State and one against then-No. 24 Minnesota.