- Ellie Walbruch returns to BYU women's soccer after recovering from an ACL injury.
- She scored twice in an exhibition match, showcasing leadership and skill on the field.
- Coach Rockwood praises Walbruch's impact, boosting team confidence amid roster changes and injuries.
PROVO — It was only an exhibition match, but Ellie Walbruch's return to South Field for a pair of games against in-state foes Southern Utah and Utah Tech meant as much as any regular-season contest.
For the first time in more than a year, the Highland native put on her No. 15 BYU jersey, laced up her boots, and stepped out on South Field to represent the university that gave her a home after she transferred back to Utah following a freshman season at UCLA.
It wasn't the first time she played at South Field (more on that in a moment). But with a rebuilt — and strengthened — ACL, Walbruch was officially back as she scored twice and added an assist in a 4-1 exhibition win over the Thunderbirds and a 1-1 draw with Utah Tech.
The 5-foot-10 junior will need more of when the ball gets rolling and the results count beginning Thursday at No. 24 Minnesota (6 p.m. MDT, Big Ten+).
"It's always a blessing to put on this jersey and represent this university," Walbruch said. "Being able to step on the field after a year out was really special, and to play with these girls. They've been by me my whole year out, and to play with them was amazing."
After a 13-match, one-goal career at UCLA, Walbruch returned home to net 11 goals with four assists — mostly off the bench — as a sophomore at BYU in 2023, earning All-Big 12 second-team honors and helping the Cougars to a 20-3-3 campaign that included an unbeaten 7-0-3 mark in the Big 12.
It also let to a run to the NCAA College Cup semifinals for the second time in three years that included a memorable 4-3 comeback win over North Carolina at South Field.
More was expected of Walbruch — who teammates call "Rashy," for the way she models her game after former Manchester United star and Barcelona forward Marcus Rashford — as an upperclassmen. Until nothing was expected.
Walbruch tore her ACL during a spring exhibition match in St. George, feeling the "pop" that has become all-too-familiar for high-level athletes that accompanies one of the worst feelings a knee can endure.
Last March, Walbruch celebrated a full year since the tear, returned to full fitness during the Cougars' spring campaign, and scored five goals in six games for the Utah United women's team en route to USL W League title and an MVP performance in the league championship game, where she helped set up a pair of goals in a 4-0 win over North Carolina at South Field.
BYU coach Jennifer Rockwood watched Walbruch's performance that evening, just as she did last week's exhibition results that marked Walbruch's first collegiate competition since the devastating knee injury for a player the BYU coach of the past three decades has known since she was in grade school.
For a full year, she became "Coach Walbruch" while guiding her teammates from the bench. Suddenly, she was doing it from the field.
"Having Ellie out here with what she was able to do for us last year as a leader, plus all of her skill and experience on the field, I think it just brings confidence to the whole team," Rockwood said.
Walbruch enters a team vastly different than the one when she was injured a year ago. Roster cuts forced on the squad by the impending House v. NCAA settlement re-drew the lineup, as did the emergence of nine freshmen including seven that arrived in January. Workhorse midfielders Mika Krommenhoek and Lucy Kesler were among the returners, as well as standout center back Avery Frischknecht.
But the Cougars were smacked by the transfer portal, a mid-summer retirement of goalkeeper Lynette Hernaez Bryant, and a late-summer injury to last year's top goal scorer, Allie Fryer. The 5-foot-7 forward from Spanish Fork who had 11 goals with a pair of assists in 19 matches last year recently had surgery to repair a foot/ankle injury, and will take a medical redshirt this season.
Mackenzee Vance, the senior from South Carolina by way of UCLA who helped steady BYU to a 9-7-5 record and NCAA Tournament berth last year, is also week-to-week to open the season with an injury.
The departures and injuries have opened the door to a potentially standout freshman class, including Sophie Sivulich, the former Northridge High and Wasatch SC standout who tallied a brace against Southern Utah — and has been at BYU since January, save for a brief trip home for graduation and a team trip to New Zealand in May.
"It was one of the best experiences of my life," said Sivulich, the only Big 12 freshman named to TopDrawerSoccer's Preseason Best XI all-freshman team, of the humanitarian-based trip. "It really helped our team culture and chemistry, and I think that will show on the field this fall."
