— From WVU Athletics Communications
MANSFIELD, Texas — Despite a 90th minute goal to send the match into overtime, the No. 8 seed West Virginia University women’s soccer team played to a 1-1 draw with No. 1-seed BYU in double overtime. Following a penalty kick shootout to decide the advancing team, the Cougars won 4-2 to advance to the semifinals of the 2026 Big 12 Tournament inside Texas Health Mansfield Stadium in Mansfield, Texas, on Monday afternoon.
After BYU went up 1-0 in the first half, the Mountaineers became desperate for an equalizer as the clock ticked toward 90:00.
That’s when senior midfielder Maya Leoni became the hero, burying an impressive free kick from just outside the top of the box to tie the game with nine seconds left in regulation. The score marked her third of the season and second free kick goal from a similar spot.
MAYA LEONI ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?
📺 ESPN+ https://t.co/f1U2Eyq4MS
— WVU Women’s Soccer (@wvuwomenssoccer) November 9, 2026
However, after two 10-minute overtime periods, a winner could not be decided, and the match went to a penalty-kick shootout.
WVU (9-4-5) converted only half of its four penalty kick attempts as it fell 4-2 in PKs.
THE WINNING MOMEMT🙌 https://t.co/xU8oS86uJZ
— BYU Women’s Soccer (@byusoccer_w) November 9, 2026
West Virginia finished the game with 24 shots, including 14 combined shots in the second half and two overtime periods. The Mountaineer defense did its part, holding BYU to just four combined shots during that same timeframe. WVU took a narrow lead in shots on goal, 5-4, while the Cougars led 6-4 in corner kicks.
Redshirt sophomore Alexis Ré paced the offense with six shots in the match, placing three on target.
Despite allowing a first-half goal, redshirt senior goalkeeper Bailey Herfurth played a terrific game, notching three saves to keep the Cougars off the scoreboard in the final 96 minutes of play and help her team salvage the tie.
The Mountaineers now wait to learn their fate in the 2026 NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament. The NCAA Selection Show is scheduled for Monday at 4 p.m. on NCAA.com.