Mountaineers Overcome Halftime Deficit to Claim Crucial Conference Win at South Field Taylor White's Second-Half Brace Sparks Comeback in Front of 2,769 Spectators
PROVO, UT – West Virginia emerged victorious with a hard-fought 3-2 comeback win over BYU on Tuesday night at South Field, improving to 6-2-1 overall and 1-0-1 in conference play. The Mountaineers trailed 1-0 at halftime before scoring three unanswered goals in the second period, with Taylor White delivering two crucial strikes to power the visitors past the Cougars in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 2,769.
The opening 45 minutes belonged to the home side, as BYU controlled possession and created the better chances. MacKenzee Vance tested the West Virginia defense with dangerous efforts at the 20-minute and 44-minute marks, while Sophie Sivulich forced a save with a high shot just before the interval. The Cougars broke through late in the first half when they found the back of the net to take a 1-0 advantage into the break, capitalizing on sustained pressure that had pinned the Mountaineers deep in their own half.
West Virginia emerged from the locker room with renewed purpose and leveled the match in the 52nd minute. Layla Thompson drove forward and unleashed a low shot from the right side of the penalty area that found its way past the BYU goalkeeper, bringing the visitors level at 1-1 and shifting momentum decisively in favor of the away side.
The Mountaineers seized control with two quick-fire goals that stunned the home crowd. Taylor White struck first in the 66th minute, finishing from the high left area to give West Virginia their first lead of the match at 2-1. Just two minutes later, West Virginia extended their advantage when they capitalized on disorganized BYU defending to make it 3-1, with the goal coming at the 71-minute mark through another clinical finish.
West Virginia's attacking trio of White, Thompson, and Maddie Levy caused constant problems for the BYU backline throughout the contest. White's intelligent movement and finishing ability proved decisive, while Thompson's willingness to carry the ball forward created space for her teammates. Levy contributed with a dangerous left-footed effort in the 43rd minute that kept the BYU defense honest during the first half.
BYU fought valiantly to claw their way back into the contest despite falling two goals behind. Mia Lopez emerged as the Cougars' most dangerous attacker, registering multiple efforts including shots in the 38th, 51st, and 87th minutes that tested West Virginia goalkeeper. Halle Dixon also threatened with attempts in the 92nd and 89th minutes as BYU pushed numbers forward in search of an equalizer.
The hosts pulled one back late in the match when they converted at the 87-minute mark to make it 3-2, setting up a tense finale. BYU threw everything forward in the closing minutes, with Dixon continuing to press and Ellie Walbruch joining the attack, but the Mountaineers held firm to secure all three points.
The victory marks an important statement for West Virginia in their Big 12 campaign, demonstrating their resilience and ability to grind out results on the road against quality opposition. After falling behind to a team with a 5-3-1 record, Neal Brown's side showed character and composure to turn the match in their favor with a dominant second-half display.
For BYU, now 5-3-1 overall and 0-2 in conference play, the defeat represents a missed opportunity to claim a signature home victory. Despite controlling the first half and creating numerous chances, the Cougars were unable to build on their early lead and will rue their inability to match West Virginia's intensity after the interval. The hosts generated good looks through Vance, Lopez, and Avery Frischknecht but lacked the cutting edge to convert their pressure into goals when it mattered most.
The match statistics reflected an even contest with both teams creating quality opportunities. West Virginia's ability to convert their chances in a critical 20-minute spell proved the difference, while BYU's attacking players showed promise despite the result. Maya Leoni, Olivia Shertzer, and Alexis Ré all had moments for West Virginia, while Anna Hauer contributed a dangerous effort in the 85th minute as the Mountaineers looked to manage their lead.