In the first ever meeting between the two squads at Gettler Stadium, BYU handed the Bearcats their first home loss of the season.

Senior center back Bella Woods’ goal came after teammate Emma Neff was fouled just outside of the box early in the second half. Woods fired a bouncing shot into the bottom right of the net for her second goal of the year.

It was also a big night for junior goalkeeper Paiton Collins, who recorded four saves in her first start of the season. The four saves doubled her season total and aided BYU in pitching its fourth shutout of the year.

The contest got off to a slow start, with both teams battling for possession early and only logging one shot a piece through the first 13 minutes of play.

After they had struggled to connect on passes and push the ball downfield early, the Cougars found some momentum in the 16th minute. BYU fired off three shots in a three-minute span, keeping pressure on the Bearcat defense and controlling possession.

BYU kept the ball on Cincinnati’s half of the field for the next 15 minutes of play, dominating the ball and time of possession. Sophomore Afton Perry fired a shot in the 29th minute that Bearcat keeper Amber Brandon got a hand on. Sophomore Sophie Sivulich followed the tip with a header that sailed over the top of the cage.

The Cougars got another opportunity two minutes later when a Sivulich cross bounced around in the box, but the shot was ultimately blocked by a Bearcat defender and the game remained 0-0.

Pressure from Kate Fuller in the 41st minute earned BYU its second corner kick of the game. The ball flipped fields before getting sent inside, but Brandon got her hands on it for Cincinnati to keep the game scoreless.

The Cougars picked up right where they left off to open the second half, putting the pressure on early. Perry drew a corner for BYU in the 48th minute that led to a Sydney Snow shot from the top of the box, collected by the keeper.

The moment came for the Cougars in the 51st minute, when Neff drew a foul just outside of the box on a dribble move to the middle. Woods took the direct kick, bending it around the wall of Bearcat defenders and tucking it into the bottom right corner.

A hard backwards pass from the Bearcats set up another opportunity for BYU just two minutes later. Sophomore Mia Goettsche found Perry alone at the top of the box, and Perry made a move inside before firing a shot that was ultimately blocked by the Bearcat center back.

Cincinnati looked to respond quick as a pass from midfield got through to Brooklyn Schomaker in center of the box. Collins made a sliding stop to record her third save of the day and preserve the Cougar lead.

The Bearcats earned two more corners as they ratcheted up the pressure, but the BYU defense led by Collins stood tall and kept the ball clear of the net.

The ball remained in Bearcat territory for the remainder of the match, with Perry logging her fifth shot of the game in the 74th minute. Perry’s five shots were a team high, tying her season-high for shots in a game.

Cincinnati managed just two shots in the final 25 minutes of the match as the Cougars hung on for the 1-0 victory. BYU outshot Cincinnati 15-11 overall, including six shots on goal to Cincinnati’s four.

The Cougars return home to South Field to take on the No. 12 Texas Tech Red Raiders on Friday, Oct. 16. Streaming will be available on ESPN+.