BYU Roundup: Women’s soccer tops Colorado St, Walbruch injured
-
- BYU women’s soccer players celebrate scoring a goal against Colorado State in a match at South Field on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026.
-
- From left, BYU’s Kate Prior, KJ Burgess and Claire Little Chambers form a block against Eastern Illinois in a women’s college volleyball match at the Smith Fieldhouse on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026.
-
- BYU’s Afton Perry battles with a Colorado State player during a women’s college soccer match at South Field on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026.
-
- Cosmo (center) reacts with the student section in the Smith Fieldhouse during a BYU women’s volleyball match against Eastern Illinois on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026.
The No. 14 BYU women’s soccer team held on to beat Colorado State 2-1 Thursday at South Field but may have lost a key player in its quest for a postseason run.
Goals from senior Mattyn Summers-Oviatt and junior Emma Hamberlin were the difference against the Rams, but 20 minutes into the first half forward Ellie Walbruch went down with an apparent knee injury. The senior captain, who missed all of the 2024 season recovering from an ACL tear, pounded the turf in frustration and had to be helped from the field.
“When someone like Ellie goes down, that frazzled us a bit,” BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. “But I was really proud of how we reacted and stayed locked in. At halftime we just told them that they had to live in the present. We talk about that all the time. Obviously we’re praying that Ellie’s OK and that it (the injury) isn’t too bad. We don’t know yet. but there’s nothing we can do so we have to play in the present.
“Ellie’s just our true leader on the team and has been for a few years now. This year she’s been more of a facilitator than a goal scorer, and that’s fine because she’s helping us be very successful. We all know the goals will come for her. Hopefully, we can get her back. She’s the heart and soul of this team. That’s why it was hard to reset once she went down. But we can just hope for the best.”
Junior defender Presley Freeman said Walbruch’s injury had a big affect on the team.
“It’s scary seeing anyone go down, and Ellie’s our captain,” Freeman said. “She’s one of my best friends and I think we all wanted to just turn it on for her. We’ve got to stay strong and support her. So whatever happens, we’re with her. She’s been a captain ever since I’ve been here. Even when she was out the first time with a knee injury, she was a captain.
“I remember watching games before I got to BYU, and I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I love Ellie, she’s a beast!’ And then I’m here and I’m playing with her on the field. I look up to her and she’s just an amazing person.”
Summers-Oviatt’s goal, her second of the season, came at the end of the first half of the match to give BYU its first halftime lead of the 2026 season.
An early second-half goal was called offside, but the Cougars got it back just minutes later off the boot of Hamberlin. It was Hamberlin’s third of the season, a team high.
Colorado State got one back in the 57th minute to bring the game back within one, but BYU controlled possession the rest of the game and kept the pressure on until the final whistle.
After only managing five shots in the first half, BYU finished the game with 19, outshooting its opponent for the fifth time in as many games this season.
Leading 1-0 at halftime, the Cougars opened the second half powerfully, as they drove a ball into the box and then into the back of the net for what appeared to be their second of the game before it was called back for offside.
BYU wasted no time getting the goal back, when a Freeman pass from the left side found Hamberlin in the middle of the box for the goal, extending the Cougars’ lead to 2-0.
Colorado State struck next in the 57th minute, when a corner kick bounced around in the box before finding the back of the net. For the Cougars, it was the first goal surrendered in three games since their Aug. 19 matchup against Wisconsin.
BYU (3-1-0) closes its four-game home stretch on Saturday when the Oklahoma Sooners come to town. The game kicks off at 2 p.m. MDT, with the game broadcast available on ESPN+.
Women’s volleyball sweeps Eastern Illinois
No. 24 BYU women’s volleyball swept Eastern Illinois (25-14, 25-18, 25-22) in its home opener at the Smith Fieldhouse on Thursday night.
The game featured two former BYU men’s volleyball players coaching their respective sides: The Cougars with Rob Neilson (2000-2004) and the Panthers with former All-American and Olympic gold medalist Ryan Millar (1996-1999).
“It was great to see that guy back in the gym,” Neilson said.
Millar led BYU to the 1999 NCAA championship and went on to secure a gold medal with the USA volleyball team in 2008. He also coached the Cougar men’s volleyball team in 2006 and 2007.
BYU (3-0, 0-0 Big 12) out-served the Panthers 8-1 in aces with junior Elli Mortensen tying her career high of four aces. BYU earned 37 kills to EIU’s 26 and achieved a .250 hitting percentage to the visitors’ .130.
Mortensen also led the team with 12 kills.
“We’re just trying to get Elli comfortable,” Neilson said. “She’s worked so hard and I think has earned the right to be really confident as she plays out there. She’s got a really high upside.”
Senior Claire Little Chambers and freshman Brooke Hardy followed with eight and seven, respectively.
Kaylie Kofe led BYU with 16 assists and Alex Bower contributed 14. Kelli Jo Burgess posted a match high five blocks and libero Lulu Po’uha led the Cougars with eight digs.
Cougars dominate Utah Valley Invitational
The BYU men’s cross country team claimed the top four spots and logged only 17 points en route to winning the Utah Valley Invitational on Friday morning.
“First race of the year, you always look for the positives and there was a lot of positives that I thought happened out there today,” said head coach Ed Eyestone.
One of those positives was sophomore Tayvon Kitchen, who picked up the 2026 season right where he left off in 2025. He lead a pack of his teammates through the first mile before separating himself in the final two. Kitchen’s 13:21.4 finish was good for an unofficial course record, and was 30 seconds faster than the next finisher.
“Obviously the expectation is that Tayvon be our low stick, and he was just that,” Eyestone added. “I don’t know that he surged as much as he just kept the pace hot and looked very good.”
The BYU women also logged a powerful performance, winning the meet with 19 points behind top finisher Jane Hedengren. The sophomore finished the course in 15:08.62, almost 33 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Caren Kipsirat of UVU.
The Cougars also placed third through eighth, with Jenna Hutchins, Taylor Lovell, Lexi Goff, Nelah Roberts, Zariel Macchia and Karrie Baloga, respectively. UVU was second with 54 points and Utah third with 76 points.
