PROVO, Utah – Sun Devil Soccer found itself on the wrong end of Thursday night’s ‘Decision Day’ as Arizona State fell at No. 13 BYU, 1-0, thus preventing the Sun Devils from advancing to next week’s Big 12 Conference Soccer Tournament in Mansfield, Texas.
Due to West Virginia and Cincinnati playing to a 90-minute tie in the minutes leading up to kick off in Provo, all Arizona State needed was a win over the Cougars (12-3-3, 8-1-2) to secure three points and leapfrog over the Mountaineers, who had 15 points following their result against the Bearcats, with 16. However, the result in Utah clinched the eighth and final spot into the tournament for WVU.
Despite the final outcome, Arizona State (9-6-3, 4-5-1) made it difficult for BYU, which needed a win to clinch the conference’s regular season championship outright following No. 18 Kansas’ 3-2 upset win over No. 7 Texas Tech, through the match’s first 45 minutes as the Sun Devils became the first team to hold the Cougars without a first half goal since Cincinnati did so on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. In fact, ASU was the first squad to accomplish the feat at South Field in Provo since Kansas State on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, a span of eight consecutive matches.
But the 0-0 tie was broken nearly 23 minutes into the second half, when Bella Woods stepped up and put an indirect free kick into the back of the net following a foul called on Lucy Fazackerley. The goal was Woods’ third game-winning goal on the season and first since netting the Cougars’ lone goal in a 1-0 win at Cincinnati last month.
Arizona State attempted to immediately answer back on a shot attempt by freshman defender Mya Angus, but BYU goalkeeper Paiton Collins, who entered the match for Chelsea Peterson at halftime, gathered the loose ball during the 70’.
Angus’ shot, though, went on to be the Sun Devils’ last potential scoring opportunity until Addison Baltadono sent a corner kick into the 6-yard box during the 85’. But Collins, again, squandered the attack by corralling the ball.
Scoring Summary
68’, 1-0, BYU, Goal by Bella Woods, Unassisted
From Head Coach Graham Winkworth
“I, first, want to congratulate BYU on a well-deserved conference championship. A special congratulations to (BYU head coach) Jen (Rockwood) for her 32 years of incredible success. She really is a true inspiration to so many coaches, me included.
I could not be prouder of this group of ladies. In my 24 years as a head coach, I have never encountered a year with so many season-ending injuries. We have had 11 student-athletes missing and the team has demonstrated its character every single match. Tonight was no exception. We finish the season with another winning record and did not lose to a team all year that was not nationally ranked at some point throughout the year.
I want to thank our seniors for their leadership all season. I told the team earlier in the year how much joy they have given me this year. They are such a wonderful group to be around each day, and this is epitomized by the character our older girls bring to the group.
As we challenge for championships in the future, I will always look back at this season as a turning point. We are by far the youngest group in the Big 12, and this is demonstrated by the large number of freshmen not only playing but starting for us. As we move forward, the experience we have given them will only bode well for 2027 and beyond.
I look back at this season with pride in the character and efforts of this team. (Natalie Drotzmann) asked me how many days to our next match about five minutes after the final whistle. I will be joining her in counting those days knowing that we will be back in 2027 and we will be competing for championships with this group.
Thank you to all the support staff for a great year and to our fans. We will see you again soon. Go Devils!”
Up Next
With Thursday night’s result, Arizona State’s will miss out on next week’s Big 12 Conference Soccer Tournament and will wait to learn of a NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Tournament berth until Monday, Nov. 16, when the 2026 NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Selection Show will air.
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