A penalty kick in soccer pits the shooter up against the goalie in an isolated moment that can affect everything — and BYU’s Ellie Walbruch wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Pressure is a privilege,” she told the “Y’s Guys” livestream show this week. “I love having pressure on my back and helping my team succeed.”
In two seasons of play at BYU, the junior from Highland, Utah, has scored 15 goals, including four so far in 2025.
For Walbruch, placing her ball on the pitch for a penalty kick at South Field is like BYU hoopster Richie Saunders stepping up to the line at the Marriott Center to attempt a clutch free throw. The hours of preparation make them fearless, and the execution of their shots make them great.
“It’s a big mental game,” Walbruch said. “For me, it’s all about routine. I have the same routine every time I go up and take one. I love them.”
There is one major difference between a Walbruch PK and a Saunders free throw — Walbruch must also beat a contending goalkeeper standing 12 yards away.
“I already know which way I’m going and if I put it perfectly, I know the keeper is not going to save it,” Walbruch said. “If it’s a little off, the keeper has a better chance. If it’s a good kick, it’s going in.”
Walbruch’s evolution as a leader at BYU started at UCLA.
As a freshman, she played a supporting role on the Bruins’ 2022 national championship team. The following year, after transferring to BYU, she came off the bench to score 11 goals, including one against her former team to spark the Cougars 3-1 upset of No. 1 UCLA. Walbruch helped lead BYU to their own College Cup appearance.
“You dream about being on a College Cup team as a little girl, and me being a part of not one, but two, is so surreal,” she said. “I’m just thankful for it.”
Walbruch had it all — and then before her debut season as a starter in 2024, she lost it all to a torn ACL.
“You don’t wish that on your worst enemy,” she said. “I learned a lot about myself and who I am outside of soccer. I’ve become a better person and a better player. I feel like a new person. My knee feels great. It’s been a blessing to step back onto South Field.”
A blessing for her, but not so much for UCLA. The No. 4 Bruins returned to Provo on Aug. 23 and Walbruch’s goal in the 13th minute was all BYU needed to beat them again, 1-0.
The highs and lows, hits and misses, ACL tears and subsequent tears have molded Walbruch into one of Jen Rockwood’s most trusted leaders who is not afraid of her head coach’s lofty expectations.
“I think that’s a big reason all these girls come to BYU. There is such a bar, a standard here. We all want to be at that high standard. We want to compete (for) Big 12 championships and national championships and that’s why we are all here,” Walbruch said. “Having a coach that believes in you and believes in the team and that it’s something we are capable of, is even better. Having (Rockwood) be that leader for us is huge.”
Rockwood and the Cougars (6-3-1, 1-2) will lean on Walbruch and the other veterans Thursday when BYU travels to Houston (6 p.m., ESPN+).
“You are going to have a different role each season, whether you are injured, coming off the bench or whether you don’t get on the field,” she said. “I’ve been through all of them and now I can help the girls under me.”
Dave McCann is a sportswriter and columnist for the Deseret News and is a play-by-play announcer and show host for BYUtv/ESPN+. He co-hosts “Y’s Guys” at ysguys.com and is the author of the children’s book “C is for Cougar,” available at deseretbook.com.