CINCINNATI, Ohio - The No. 20 BYU women's soccer team concluded its conference road trip with a 1-0 win over Cincinnati on October 12, 2026. This marked the first meeting between the two teams at Gettler Stadium, where BYU handed the Bearcats their first home loss of the season.
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The decisive goal came from senior center back Bella Woods in the 51st minute, following a foul on teammate Emma Neff just outside the box. Woods executed a free kick that curved around the wall of defenders and found the bottom right corner for her second goal of the year.
A standout performance also came from junior goalkeeper Paiton Collins, who made four saves in her first start of the season, contributing to BYU's fourth shutout.
In the first half, both teams struggled to establish control, registering only one shot apiece in the first 13 minutes. BYU began to find its rhythm in the 16th minute, unleashing three shots in quick succession, increasing the pressure on the Bearcat defense. Afton Perry and Sophie Sivulich created multiple scoring opportunities, but the score remained 0-0 as Bearcat keeper Amber Brandon intervened effectively.
The second half resumed with BYU maintaining its assertiveness. In the 48th minute, Perry earned a corner that led to a shot from Sydney Snow, but it was saved by Cincinnati’s keeper. The pivotal moment arrived shortly after when Woods' free kick broke the deadlock.
Cincinnati attempted to respond quickly, with a pass reaching Brooklyn Schomaker in the box, but Collins made a crucial sliding save to keep BYU ahead. Despite Cincinnati earning additional corner kicks, the BYU defense, anchored by Collins, remained resolute.
The Cougars dominated possession, outshooting the Bearcats 15-11 overall, including 6 shots on goal to Cincinnati's 4. Perry led BYU with five shots, tying her season high.
Looking forward, BYU will return home to South Field to face the No. 12 Texas Tech Red Raiders on Friday, October 16, with streaming available on ESPN+.