PROVO, Utah – Naomi Clark scored her league-leading eighth goal of the season, but it wasn’t enough as No. 23 UCF women’s soccer fell to BYU, 3-1, in Big 12 Conference action Thursday night at South Field in Provo.
The loss marked just the Knights’ second of the season and their first in conference play as they dropped to 5-2-1 overall and 0-1-1 in the Big 12 play. The Cougars moved to 5-2-2 on the year and 1-0-1 in league play with the result.
Brigham Young struck first with a quick goal from Mia Goettsche in the second minute to take an early 1-0 lead.
After BYU generated a couple more chances over the opening minutes, the Knights answered in the 13th with a strike from Clark. Maria Tregansin played a ball forward from midfield to Ainsley Moy, who connected with Clark near the top of the box. Clark, who was ahead of the defense, then slipped a shot past the keeper and into the far side of the net for her league-leading eighth goal of the season to even the score at 1-1.
13' | Naomi Clark ties it with her conference-leading 8th goal of the year❗
— UCF Women's Soccer (@UCF_WSoccer) September 25, 2026
And it stands after VAR review! pic.twitter.com/XnJCXrYeOG
The Cougars created a few more opportunities during the opening 45 minutes, but Kaïna Cesar and the UCF defense stood firm to keep the match level at the break.
After both sides had a couple of opportunities in the second half, the Cougars managed to take a late lead with a goal from Afton Perry in the 70th minute. Mika Krommenhoek fed a pass back to Perry near the spot and Perry delivered what proved to be the game-winner to put BYU up by a score of 2-1.
The Cougars looked for more over the next few minutes and Krommenhoek headed one into the back of the net off a free kick in the 78th minute to extend their lead to 3-1.
The Knights tried to stage a late comeback with shots from Clark and Gabi Berchon in the closing minutes, but it wasn’t enough as BYU held on for the victory.
Despite the loss, Clark led UCF with three shots while Moy recorded her sixth assist of the season and Tregansin added her third. Clark’s goal not only marked her Big 12-leading eighth of the season through just eight games, but also the 20th of her career.
BYU outshot the Black and Gold 24-7 and 9-2 on goal on the night. With the win, Brigham Young upped its home record to 262-34-21 all-time at South Field.
The contest marked just the fourth all-time meeting between the Knights and Cougars and UCF’s second trip to Provo.
UP NEXT
The Knights will continue the trip by heading north on I-15 to Salt Lake City to face Utah on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET/noon MT. Following Sunday’s contest, the Black and Gold will return to the UCF Soccer Complex to host No. 13/8 Colorado on Friday, Oct. 2 for the annual Space Game.