BYU women’s soccer sets schedule for fall season

The BYU women’s soccer team has officially unveiled its full schedule for the 2021 fall season, which begins in one month against Weber State at South Field.

The pandemic delayed the 2020 fall season to the spring of 2021, leaving BYU just over two months removed from its final game against Virginia in the NCAA Tournament on May 1.

Ten starters from the spring team that went 11-4-1 return for the fall, including the West Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Year Mikayla Colohan. Colohan was drafted by the Orlando Pride of the National Women’s Soccer League earlier this year and will play her final season at BYU this fall.

The NCAA gave all athletes another year of eligibility because of the pandemic, allowing five seniors to return for one more season. This group includes Colohan, forward Cameron Tucker, goalkeeper Cassidy Smith, Grace Johnson and Mikaylie Call. Six freshmen will also join the team as part of the incoming class.

The Cougars had an eight-game unbeaten streak at the end of the spring season before falling to Virginia in the NCAA Tournament and will look to keep the momentum going and earn themselves another tournament bid in the fall. BYU finished the spring season ranked No. 17 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll.

Early highlights from the Cougars’ schedule include home games against Ohio State and USC in August. BYU finishes the non-conference schedule with a homestand against Missouri, Idaho State and Utah State in September. West Coast Conference play will begin on Oct. 2 against Gonzaga in Spokane.

BYU lost to USC in the spring in Los Angeles but defeated Missouri 3-0 in Columbia in last season’s non-conference schedule. The Cougars lost just one game in conference play, to the eventual champion Santa Clara, and finished in second place behind the Broncos in the West Coast Conference.

Tickets for home games at South Field go on sale to the general public on Friday, July 16.