It could’ve been a day of payback.

Instead, the Bruins were fined twice.

Gof Boyoko’s hopes for a home win in his head-coaching debut for No. 9 UCLA women’s soccer (0-1) were thwarted 2-1 at Wallis Annenberg Stadium on Wednesday by BYU (1-0) – the very team that ended the Bruins’ 2025 season last November.

“We just let them come back in the game,” Boyoko said. “(It) could have gone both ways, but at the end of the day, it’s unfortunate that I start my first year as head coach with a loss.”

The Bruins appeared outgunned by the Cougars. BYU outshot UCLA 7-3 in the first half before both teams matched each other with seven attempts apiece in the second. But just one of the Bruins’ shots after halftime was on goal while the Cougars peppered junior goalkeeper Mariangela Medina with four.

Cougar forward Mattyn Summers-Oviatt caught Thea Perry and the rest of the Bruin defense lacking just ahead of halftime, stealing the ball from the freshman midfielder right outside the arc before firing a game-tying shot on the breakaway.

“It’s still a new team,” Medina said. “This was just a challenge for us, and it’s just the beginning, which is good. … We can keep working on it.”

UCLA’s inability to clear struck again in the 59th minute.

After Medina defended Cougar forward Ellie Walbruch’s header off a free kick, BYU’s second shot attempt – or perhaps third or fourth, given the scuffle in front of the Bruin goal – netted the visitors all the scoring they would need.

Medina, sophomore forward Leena Powell and junior defender Nicki Fraser collided going for the loose ball, allowing BYU forward Brynnli Tolbert to tip in the game-winner.

“It’s a 90-minute game,” said junior forward Kara Croone. “The little details matter. … They’re a physical team, but we just try to play our game, and that’s all we can really focus on.”

Fraser missed the 2025 season due to injury and wouldn’t return to the game after an apparent injury during the dustup, but she walked off the field on her own power. Croone said the defender appeared in good spirits on the sidelines.

Croone, a member of last season’s All-Big Ten third team, scored UCLA’s lone goal in the 37th minute – already putting her halfway toward matching the career-high two goals she had a year ago.

Medina racked up five saves in just her second 90-minute outing as a Bruin. Her first came last October, when she blocked seven shots to blank Minnesota.

However, Boyoko added that Medina is set to temporarily depart the Bruins for around four weeks so she can play for the U20 Mexican National Team – likely prolonging the coach’s search for his best deck.