BYU Women's Soccer Wins Big 12 Regular-Season Title
Bella Woods' second-half free kick gave the Cougars a 1-0 win over Arizona State on Senior Night.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Soccer
BYU women's soccer beat Arizona State 1-0 on Senior Night to claim its first Big 12 regular-season championship. Bella Woods scored the game-winning goal on a second-half free kick.
Why it matters
The title gives BYU the No. 1 seed heading into the Big 12 tournament after a season that included a 4-0 loss to Utah State. It also marks a milestone for a program that has remained unbeaten at home all season.
BYU won the match 1-0, with three shots on goal in the first half against two for Arizona State. The Cougars have been unbeaten at home this season, though they were shut out 4-0 by Utah State earlier in the year, and their tournament results remain to be decided.
The players
Jennifer Rockwood
Rockwood is finishing her 32nd and final season as BYU women's soccer coach and is the only coach the program has had in its history.
Bella Woods
Woods is a BYU midfielder who scored the game-winning free kick against Arizona State.
Brigham Young University
BYU is a private university in Provo, Utah, whose women's soccer program plays its home games at South Field.
The details
Woods sent a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box into the bottom-left corner in the second half. Arizona State received two yellow cards within the first 25 minutes of the second half, while goalkeeper Paiton Collins made saves to keep the visitors scoreless.
Timeline
Earlier in the 2026 season: BYU lost 4-0 to Utah State.
Senior Night, 2026: BYU defeated Arizona State 1-0 to win the Big 12 regular-season title.
Last season: BYU won the Big 12 tournament as the No. 8 seed.
Upcoming: The Big 12 tournament, with BYU seeded No. 1.
Season Trajectory
Winning the Big 12 regular-season title gives BYU the top seed in the conference tournament, a position it reached after finishing eighth in the previous year's tournament. Rockwood's hopes that the team's best soccer is still ahead suggest the Cougars see their momentum carrying into the postseason.
The No. 1 seed means BYU can earn a first-round bye in the Big 12 tournament, depending on the bracket format. Fans planning to attend postseason matches should check the tournament schedule as it is released.
The takeaway
A regular-season title and a top seed give BYU a clear path into the conference tournament, but the postseason still starts from zero. Fans following the team should watch for the tournament bracket to see the Cougars' first opponent.
What happens next
BYU begins play in the Big 12 tournament as the No. 1 seed, with the date and opponent to be determined by the tournament schedule.
Further reading
Follow more coverage in the Soccer section for context on Provo's college teams.
