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Today you hear the music and time for a little
Olympic sports report out of Brigham Young University in Provo.
We're gonna talk VA women's soccer in this segment with
the the MVP of this most recent matchup on the
pitch versus the TCU Horned Frogs. The Kougs ended up
advancing in the Big twelve to Turney with a fantastic,
amazing upset first round win over top seeded TCU odd
Peks No less. So we're going to break that down
here on your Utah ESPN Radio Network. It's gonna be
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to the hot line and welcome in baller shot collar.
She is one of the best strikers I've seen in
the modern era for BYU women's soccer, and she was
along with her teammates who was a team effort, but man,
she was phenomenal. We got Ellie Wallbrook on the night. Ellie,
how are you hi there? I'm doing awesome. Congratulations on
the dub what a great win. I mean. Look, historically
BYU I think has done well against TCU, but in
the modern era they struggle a little bit. We've had
some losses in the last three and I think we're
like O two and one. What was the difference this
go around? What was the difference in this particular match.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, obviously teach you the great team or
very well coached, and they play a possession style that
they always execute it well. So I think just going
into the game, they were a number one seed, they
are at their Big Twelve championships, are at their home field,
so they kind of had a little bit more pressure
on them, and we kind of just came out playing
free and just really had no pressure, which is kind
of not like us. I feel like DYU always has
the pressure on their backs. So just came out free
and we played our game and we got the result
that we wanted. So it was a great game and
just such a fun team win that we deserved.
Speaker 2: Yeah, there is an element of like pressure when you're
the top seeded team, you're you're the favorite, right and
b Yu's typically been in that in that position historically
under Jen Rockwood. Uh, that dynamic is unique from you know,
for the last few years. I guess being a bit
of an underdog. Was this kind of this free flow
and no pressure feel. Is this pervasive within the roster
heading into this matchup?
Speaker 3: I don't know. I mean I think we're always people
always give us their best game. I mean, we're a
prestigious BYU. Everyone loves to beat us and play their
best game against us. So I think just coming in
obviously we had something to prove. We didn't really play
the way we wanted to in the Big Twelve. Greg
credit to the Big Twelve. There's so many good teams.
I mean a lot of them are top twenty in RPI.
So just a great, great league to be in at
the point in women's soccer right now. So yeah, just
having that kind of I mean, I feel like we
still have pressure on our back, but just playing with
no pressure because we were an eight seed and no
one really thought we could do. The Big upset was
a relief BYU.
Speaker 2: Junior goalkeeper Chelsea Peterson. Made eight shaves and stood tall
and penalty kicks in what was her first start as
a Cougar, stepping in after Peyton Collins was injured in
the regular season finale. Could you speak to how well
Chelsea performed?
Speaker 3: Oh my gosh, Yes, I love Chelsea. I mean her
story is so unique, coming from a mission home from
a mission not really wanting to play soccer anymore, and
then coming to BIU and obviously an opportunity arose and
she actually just ran with it. She's so confident. She's
just a very confident leader, and just having her step
into that role obviously a big loss. With Peyton, we
love her and I think she's had an amazing season,
so it sucks to be where she's at. But I
know she's gonna come back even stronger from her injury.
But yeah, so credit to Chelsea. She was a great
presence in that and just really proud of her and
she deserves this moment more than anyone I know.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm excited to see what she can do. It's
a tournament time and Chelsea's got a step up big.
She does have a lot of experience, right, I mean
she's played high level soccer before, in high level games.
I think that boats well and she probably had a
little bit of an acclamation period throughout the regular season
being the backup to Peyton.
Speaker 3: Yeah, one hundred percent. I mean she's had experience. She
was a starter at Utah before her mission, so she
grew up playing high level soccer. So yeah, she's got
all the experience and I mean she stepped up with
so much confidence in our last two games. I mean,
going in against Utah and then obviously playing in our
KEYCU matchup last night. Just so much confidence and the
way she played is just gonna keep building her. So
super proud of her and just really excited for the
rest of her career.
Speaker 2: Ronald, you got some questions for Ellie Wahlbrook. What do
you got for me?
Speaker 1: I always got questions for Rashi. I didn't give her
that nickname. Someone else did, but no, Ellie. Walk us
through your first goal and then your second goal. Man,
I thought the first one was a banger, but the
second one was better than the first.
Speaker 2: Haha.
Speaker 3: Thanks Roy, I appreciate that. Yeah, I mean the first goal,
I mean I was in the right spot, kind of
got the ball in the middle giveaway from TCUs outside back,
kind of took a touch, saw the keeper was kind
of not off her line, but she was cheating a
little bit to the right and just ripped it like
I usually do. And yeah, it was a great shot.
I mean I've practiced that so many times with my
dad in the backyard, so practice makes perfect and I'm
just glad I was in that spot to shoot it
at the time. And then obviously my second goal, I
mean I was probably one of the best goals I've
ever scored. But yeah, just to put a little bend
on it. Free kick action, just yeah, I loved it.
It was so much fun and just credit to my teammates.
I mean, I couldn't do it without my teammates and
the support and belief they have in me. So I
love it and I'm just excited for our game tomorrow.
Speaker 2: You scored a brace in your twelfth and thirteen goals
for the season. Both goals were obviously unassisted, and this
is I believe, your second brace on the year and
eighth and ninth goals against Big twelve opponents. You mentioned
that that one of the those goals was your best
shot ever. That's saying something you scored a lot of
goals in your career.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean I feel like a free kick goal,
especially from that angle with that Crowling had on it.
I mean, you practice them and you hit them in practice,
but those are the ones in the games where you
never can perfect. So just to get that goal, I
mean I practiced them, Like I said, I practiced so
many times with my dad working on free kicks. So
just to have that go in at the time when
we needed it most to go up to one was
so huge, and yeah, it was.
Speaker 2: It was.
Speaker 3: It was a pretty good one. And I have had
to watch it back because I feel like it's still
not real that I scored that, But yeah, it was
pretty cool.
Speaker 2: Did you catch up with the TCU goalkeeper after the
after the game, after the match and and converse with
her at all. I'm sure she was probably like, oh
my gosh, that's like, these are both perfect. I can't
do anything those were Those were immaculate shots.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I don't know. I mean they were pretty upset
after the pks. I mean, tks are a pretty tough
way to go out, but they had They've had a
great season. They've played some great teams, so they're gonna
have a good run in the NCAA tournament. So yeah,
I mean they're a great competitor, but we got the
better of them last night.
Speaker 2: What was the conversation from the coaching staff to the
players and even from the players to players leading up
to those pks.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, to be honest, we were very very confident.
I think we had so much belief in each other
and it was kind of it's kind of funny, a
funny story, like we're lining up for PKS and me
and Lucy Kessler on the PK shootout liner who sank
sixty seven to kind of boot them boost the energy
a little bit, kind of laughing in line. So we
were we were very positive and we knew, we knew,
we practiced these We knew if our minds speak louder
than our actions, and that's what it's going to do.
So all four of our penalty cake takers made them.
So yeah, we were just super confident and proud of
the group, proud of the confidence we had in the
belief in one another. Because it takes it takes all
thirty of the girls, not just the four of five
who take.
Speaker 1: Them to All Big twelve first team earlier this afternoon.
What does that accomplished mean for you, especially coming off
the ACL injury.
Speaker 3: Oh yeah, I mean it means so much to me.
I think I've had to put in lots of hard
work and perseverance, especially through coming back to my ACL injury,
not knowing if I'm going to be the same type
of player I was before. I mean that's always a
big question in your head when you get injured. So
just having that hard work payoff and not to just
be the same as I was before, but I think
even better was just huge and just for people to
acknowledge that it means the world. But like I said,
like I couldn't do it without my teammates. I mean,
they put me in great positions to score goals, So
credit to them, and just excited to keep going with
this team and the postseason play.
Speaker 2: You're the eighth seeded team now advancing through the semi finals.
You face a fifth seeded Baylor that also picked up
an upset victory in the first round in PKS. They
had a dramatic finish as well. The match is going
to take place at three thirty pm Mountain tom on Wednesday. Yeah,
we can view it on ESPN Plus for everybody that's
tuning in. Have you been able to scout Baylor yet,
give us a little breakdown of what we know about Baylor.
Speaker 3: Yeah, So we actually were able to play Baylor in
their regular season. We were up twice on them and
they ended up coming back and beating us four to
two at their home field in Waco. So yeah, we're
very familiar with then. They're a great team. I think
they have some special players in the attack that we
got to kind of watch, but I mean, we've played them,
we know how to score on them. It's just kind
of switching our mentality to put our defensive energy in
which we've had the last two games. So we're gonna
kind of switch flip that switch, and yeah, we're just
excited for kind of a revenge match on them.
Speaker 2: It's gonna be a big one, no doubt about it.
What's your mindset like going into tournament play right now?
Getting into the thick of it? Now, do you feel
like you guys are playing your best soccer right now? Yeah?
Speaker 3: I think one hundred percent.
Speaker 2: I do.
Speaker 3: I think we've bet we're peaking at the right time.
I think a big thing for us is just kind
of owning our process, what we're good at, what works
for us. Has been a huge thing this whole season.
I think these last couple of matches have we've kind
of put that all together. So we're really excited to
play Baylor tomorrow and continue this run in the Big
Twelve and obviously hopefully in the CAA Tournament.
Speaker 2: Love it, Ellie, Well, we appreciate you joining us. Congratulations
on a huge win and one of your best performances.
I mean, I call you one of the best strikers
in the modern era of b Way soccer. I've only
been around since what two thousand and five watching, but
you're pretty guys staying good and we've had some great
strikers come through BYU over the years. So congratulations and
all your success. Love what you're doing. And the other
great thing about your story that I don't know if
everybody knows, was about, uh, you've gone through some injuries
as well. You came from u C l A and
played well and then had an injury and had the
red shirt essentially, and and now you're you're you're playing
some of your best soccer. So uh, those stories of
persever persevering through those trials or tremendous stories for to
tell to the next generation of of soccer plays. And
how do you take that very seriously that mentor mentorship
of the next generation of soccer plays here in the
state and around the country. And I imagine you got
you got lofty dreams too. Don't you want to play
after b YU If I'm not.
Speaker 3: Mistaken, yes, I do. Yeah, I want to play professionally.
Speaker 2: I love it. Well, keep on balling out, Ellie. We're
big fans. You know how we roll here at ESPN
the fan. We appreciate you hopping on. Congratulations and let
us know if we can do anything for you.
Speaker 3: Good luck versus Baylor awesome, Thank you Bennis for having me.
Speaker 2: You have much love Ellie Walbrock, Ladies and gentlemen. That
segment World of BYU Sports brought to you by Dental
Pros of Utah in American fork Uh. Head on over
to the Dental Pros of Utah. If you've been told
you need a filling a crowd a root canal, all
I'm asking you to do is get that second opinion.
They utilize the best biometa techniques. These are minimally invasive
techniques to rebuild your teeth layer by layer, so you
don't have to settle for the fake teeth later on
in life. Choose Dental Pros. Check out their Google reviews.
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