College soccer 2023 preview: No. 13 BYU women's soccer
College soccer 2023 preview: No. 13 BYU women's soccer
After returning its entire starting XI and the bulk of the lineup from last year's top-16 team nationally, BYU has big expectations — including a Big 12 title in its first year in the league.
The 2023-24 NCAA soccer season officially opens Thursday night on the Wasatch Front, when No. 13 BYU hosts No. 21 Saint Louis is a key matchup both regionally and nationally at South Field in Provo (7 p.m. MT, ESPN+).
Elsewhere in Utah soccer, Utah Valley opens the season at the Outrigger Soccer Kickoff hosted by the University of Hawaii, where the Wolverines will face the host Rainbow Warriors on Thursday and Houston Christian on Saturday before returning home next Thursday, Aug. 24 to host No. 25 Clemson.
The University of Utah opens at North Carolina State tonight as part of a three-match road swing before hosting Clemson next Sunday, Aug. 27 at Ute Soccer Field in Salt Lake City.
We’ll preview top storylines from around the state in a future newsletter. But for now, we wanted to catch you up on what happened with the No. 13 team in the country, BYU, as it prepares for its first season in the Big 12 Conference — and as favorites to win the league.
Here’s a look at the Cougars.
Key returners: MF Jamie Shepherd, MF Brecken Mozingo, MF Olivia Wade-Katoa, DF Laveni Vaka, FW Allie Fryer, FW Bella Folino, GK Savanna Mason
It might be easier to list “the entire starting lineup,” because that’s what the Cougars return from the 2022-23 squad that went 11-3-7 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 16.
A few departures were in tow, such as senior defender Natalee Wells (graduation) and forward Daviana Vaka, the former Juan Diego star who transferred to Florida.
But the bulk of the roster returns, led by MAC Hermann Trophy watch list candidates Jamie Shepherd, Brecken Mozingo, and Laveni Vaka, as well as senior leader Olivia Wade-Katoa and starting goalkeeper Savanna Mason.
“There are very few times in any coaching career that you return all of your starters. It rarely ever happens,” Rockwood said. “For us to have that going into this new season and going into the Big 12, we feel that is a big advantage for us. Any time you return that many players that have had significant minutes for you … that chemistry, that experience, that leadership helps make it that much easier for new players to come in and get acclimated to what we do and get used to it.
“We only added two new players to our roster from our spring season. We also have a unique situation with six returned missionaries that came in 2021. It’s a bigger group, but lots forward to this season.”
Key newcomers: FW Ellie Walbruch (UCLA), GK Lynette Hernaez (Washington State, church mission), GK Kelsey Hoopes (church mission), GK Haven Empey (church mission), DF Tylie Pratt (freshman), MF/F Ellie Ford (freshman), MF Halle Dixon (freshman), MF/D Camryn Jorgensen (freshman), DF Ella Rustand (freshman)
Among the newcomers, BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood is perhaps most acquainted with Walbruch. The two first met when Walbruch was 5 years old, Rockwood was coach with Utah Celtic Academy, and the pint-sized striker showed up in a full U.S. national team kit for training.
After initially signing with UCLA over the Cougars, Walbruch, who hails from American Fork, returns home following her freshman season to play for her one-time academy coach.
“Let’s be honest: I was super bummed when she didn’t come to BYU when I originally offered her,” Rockwood said. “I understand; UCLA’s a fantastic program, and she wanted to go try something like that. But obviously, always in the back of your mind is girls end up wanting to come back and wanting to be a part of the university. I’m very excited that it worked out, especially because I’ve known Ellie and her family for so long. She’s a great player and a quality person, and she’ll be a great contributor to our team both on and off the field for the next three years. I’m really looking forward to it.”
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