No. 4 UCLA women’s soccer saw its NCAA Tournament run come to a close on Friday night at Stanford’s Cagan Stadium, falling to No. 5 BYU. The Bruins fell 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.
UCLA controlled large stretches of the match, outshooting BYU 27-17 and holding a 10-4 edge in corner kicks, consistently pushing the Cougar back line deep into its own half. Freshman goalkeeper Daphne Nakfoor recorded eight saves and handled several dangerous crosses, keeping UCLA scoreless in the first half and into the late stages.
BYU opened the scoring in the 72nd minute. Halle Dixon found space on the left and slipped a ball to Mika Krommenhoek, whose cross into the box was headed in by Mattyn Summers-Oviatt for a 1-0 lead. UCLA responded nine minutes later. After her first attempt was blocked, forward Emma Egizii collected the rebound at the top of the box and drove a low shot past the keeper to tie the match at 1-1 in the 81st minute.
The equalizer shifted momentum back to UCLA, which continued to generate chances in regulation and in overtime. Early in the second extra period, the Bruins nearly grabbed a winner after drawing the goalkeeper off her line, but a BYU defender stepped in to clear the ball before a shot could reach the net. On the other end, sophomore defender Paloma Daubert broke up a late BYU attack in the final seconds of double overtime, sliding in to dispossess the Cougar forward and send the match to a shootout.
In penalties, BYU’s experience from earlier postseason shootouts showed. The Cougars converted their first four attempts. UCLA’s first two shots from the spot were saved, creating a deficit that was difficult to erase. Junior Val Vargas and Daubert scored on the Bruins’ third and fourth kicks, but BYU’s fourth make secured the 4-2 margin in the shootout and closed UCLA’s tournament run.
The Bruins end the season 12-5-4, while BYU moves on to the Round of 16.
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Featured Image Photographed by Regan Rhodes/BruinLife
