{"id":393765,"date":"2025-11-21T03:51:46","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T03:51:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/393765\/"},"modified":"2025-11-21T03:51:46","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T03:51:46","slug":"chelsea-peterson-in-the-right-place-at-the-right-time-deseret-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/393765\/","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea Peterson in the right place at the right time \u2013 Deseret News"},"content":{"rendered":"

With two minutes remaining in the first half of a must-win game at rival Utah<\/a> on Oct. 30, the screech of the referee\u2019s whistle stopped everything. From the sideline, Chelsea Peterson could see her teammate, Paiton Collins, was down on the pitch.<\/p>\n

The Cougars\u2019 18-game starter at goalie was holding her right knee. The ACL was gone, and Collins\u2019 season was instantly over. Adding to the stress of the night, without a victory, BYU\u2019s year would be over, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cPaiton\u2019s injury \u2014 it made me sick,\u201d Peterson told the \u201cY\u2019s Guys\u201d livestream show this week. \u201cYou hate to see it, but when someone goes down, someone has to come in. It\u2019s just how it works.\u201d<\/p>\n

With Collins down, Peterson was in. <\/p>\n

The turn of events that brought the 5-foot-8 former Ute back to Ute Field to play for BYU could fill the pages of a fiction novel, but the story is very real. Peterson\u2019s journey includes tough decisions, two continents and the courage to follow her feelings.<\/p>\n

First prompting<\/p>\n

After spending three years as goalkeeper for Utah, which included the combined 2020-2021 COVID-19 seasons, the former Orem Tiger felt the urge to walk away from soccer and serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt just came. It came hard and fast that (a) mission was what I had to do,\u201d Peterson said. \u201cIt just felt right. I couldn\u2019t shake it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Called to serve in the football hotbed of Manchester, England, Peterson packed her bags, her scriptures and her cleats and crossed the Atlantic.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was absolutely transformative,\u201d Peterson said of her mission experience. \u201cEverything about me, spiritually and in a lot of different ways, changed and developed and became way better and it\u2019s made me hopefully a better person and a better soccer player.\u201d<\/p>\n

Peterson spent her first nine months proselytizing in Manchester where loyalties are deeply split between football rivals Manchester United and Manchester City. She also spent six months in Liverpool, the home of her favorite team growing up. Peterson\u2019s soccer prowess came in handy with youth groups and older, diehard fans.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would be really easy to talk to people about soccer,\u201d Peterson said. \u201cTo have some random American missionary start talking tactical with people on the bus and talk about formations that Man U. is playing, they are like, \u2018What?\u2019 They just couldn\u2019t figure it out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Second prompting<\/p>\n

After returning home, Peterson decided not to return to the University of Utah and entered the transfer portal to explore her options. Still harboring childhood dreams of playing for BYU one day, Peterson reached out to the Cougars \u2014 and was turned away, just as she was in high school.<\/p>\n

\u201cI figured God has plans for me. I felt, \u2018If you sent me, you are going to take care of me when I get home,\u201d she said. \u201cOnce again, I felt (an) extremely strong (feeling) to come to BYU and study Exercise Science.\u201d<\/p>\n

Accepting the possibility that her playing days were over, Peterson spent last year attending classes as a regular student. However, a text message in early August changed everything.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you still here at BYU?\u201d asked her former club coach and current BYU assistant Steve Magleby.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Peterson responded.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to talk,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOK,\u201d Peterson said. <\/p>\n

Third prompting<\/p>\n

The two met and Magleby explained how an unexpected departure left the team shorthanded at goalie.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, are you in?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

Peterson was surprised by the invitation. She had been out of soccer for three years, but the answer became quite clear.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt like I should, so I did,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s kind of a theme with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a daughter who grew up in a True-Blue family, the development seemed heavenly. So many of her childhood memories were tied to BYU events, including Tanner Mangum\u2019s Hail Mary pass to Mitch Mathews to stun Nebraska 33-28 on Sept. 5, 2015.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can remember exactly where I was,\u201d Peterson said. \u201cI was camping with my family. We were listening in the truck. Everybody was like, \u2018Be quiet! Be quiet!\u2019 My dad was driving. We were sitting in the back trying to figure out if he caught it and then Greg (Wrubell) erupted, \u201cTouchdown!\u2019 It was a big one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Return to Ute Field<\/p>\n

In a full circle moment, Peterson\u2019s return to Ute Field as BYU\u2019s goalie capped a whirlwind adventure while at the same time, it kickstarted another one \u2014 and just as improbable. With help from a valiant group of defenders, Peterson preserved the Cougars 2-0 victory to qualify for the Big 12 Tournament.<\/p>\n

Making her first start of the season in Fort Worth, Texas, BYU upset No. 5 TCU. Peterson held her ground 4-3 in a penalty kick shootout. Two days later, the Cougars shut out No. 23 Baylor 4-0 and then they blanked Kansas 1-0 in the championship game. Peterson was named the Defensive Player of the Tournament.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis team makes me look a lot better than I am,\u201d she said. \u201cThey get some big stops and when (people) see zeros on the board, they look at the goalkeeper, but everyone is contributing to that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marathon shootout<\/p>\n

Winning the Big 12 Tournament landed a first-round home game in the NCAA Tournament last Friday against Utah State. After regulation play ended in a 1-1 tie, Peterson and Aggie goalie Taylor Rath delivered a joint performance for the ages \u2014 an 11-round duel of penalty kicks.<\/p>\n

Each attempt required Peterson\u2019s complete focus as one Aggie after another took their shots.<\/p>\n

\"\"BYU Cougars players react after BYU Cougars goalkeeper Chelsea Peterson (00) blocked the last shot at the goal during a penalty kick shootout to win over the Utah State Aggies in overtime during an NCAA first-round soccer game at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"The BYU Cougars lift up BYU Cougars goalkeeper Chelsea Peterson (00), center, after she blocked the last shot at the goal during a penalty kick shootout to win over the Utah State Aggies in overtime during an NCAA first-round soccer game at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"BYU Cougars goalkeeper Chelsea Peterson (00) celebrates after she blocked the last shot at the goal during a penalty kick shootout to win over the Utah State Aggies in overtime during an NCAA first-round soccer game at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"The BYU Cougars lift up BYU Cougars goalkeeper Chelsea Peterson (00), center, after she blocked the last shot at the goal during a penalty kick shootout to win over the Utah State Aggies in overtime during an NCAA first-round soccer game at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"The BYU Cougars celebrate around BYU Cougars goalkeeper Chelsea Peterson (00), center, after she blocked the last shot at the goal during a penalty kick shootout to win over the Utah State Aggies in overtime during an NCAA first-round soccer game at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"The BYU Cougars celebrate around BYU Cougars goalkeeper Chelsea Peterson (00), center, after she blocked the last shot at the goal during a penalty kick shootout to win over the Utah State Aggies in overtime during an NCAA first-round soccer game at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"BYU Cougars goalkeeper Chelsea Peterson (00), center left, hugs teammate BYU Cougars defender Izzi Stratton (24), right, after Peterson blocked the last shot at the goal during a penalty kick shootout to win over the Utah State Aggies in overtime during an NCAA first-round soccer game at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"The BYU Cougars lift up BYU Cougars goalkeeper Chelsea Peterson (00), center, after she blocked the last shot at the goal during a penalty kick shootout to win over the Utah State Aggies in overtime during an NCAA first-round soccer game at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"BYU Cougars forward\/midfielder Ellie Walbruch (15) and Utah State Aggies midfielder Kaeda Wilson (28) fight for the ball during an NCAA first-round soccer game at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"BYU Cougars midfielder Mia Lopez (19) and Utah State Aggies midfielder Kaeda Wilson (28) fight for the ball during an NCAA first-round soccer game at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"BYU Cougars Emma Neff (9) fights for the ball against Utah State Aggies midfielder Kaeda Wilson (28) during an NCAA first-round soccer game at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"BYU Cougars Ellie Walbruch (15) reacts after Utah State Aggies Capriel Winder (41) falls during an NCAA first-round soccer game at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"BYU Cougars midfielder Ella Labrum (5) reacts after a tied game against the Utah State Aggies before the BYU Cougars take the field again for overtime during an NCAA first-round soccer game at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"BYU Cougars midfielder Ella Labrum (5) takes control of the ball during an NCAA first-round soccer game against the Utah State Aggies at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"Utah State Aggies goalkeeper Taylor Rath (00) blocks a shot during a penalty kick shootout against the BYU Cougars in overtime during an NCAA first-round soccer game at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"BYU Cougars fans cheer as BYU Cougars goalkeeper Chelsea Peterson (00) walks toward the goal during a penalty kick shootout in overtime against the Utah State Aggies during an NCAA first-round soccer game at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"Utah State Aggies forward\/midfielder Hadli Barrera (25) takes a header during an NCAA first-round soccer game against the BYU Cougars at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"BYU Cougars midfielder\/defender Mia Goettsche (21) makes a shot at the goal during a penalty kick shootout against Utah State Aggies goalkeeper Taylor Rath (00) in overtime during an NCAA first-round soccer game at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"BYU Cougars goalkeeper Chelsea Peterson (00) and BYU Cougars fans celebrate after Peterson won the game for the BYU Cougars after blocking a shot during a penalty kick shootout against the Utah State Aggies in overtime during an NCAA first-round soccer game at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"Utah State Aggies goalkeeper Taylor Rath (00) fails to block a shot during a penalty kick shootout against the BYU Cougars in overtime during an NCAA first round soccer game at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"BYU Cougars goalkeeper Chelsea Peterson (00) attempts to block a shot during a penalty kick shootout against the Utah State Aggies in overtime during an NCAA first-round soccer game at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"BYU Cougars goalkeeper Chelsea Peterson (00) and BYU Cougars fans celebrate after Peterson won the game for the BYU Cougars after blocking a shot during a penalty kick shootout against the Utah State Aggies in overtime during an NCAA first-round soccer game at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"BYU Cougars Mattyn Summers-Oviatt (30) runs to the ball during an NCAA first-round soccer game against the Utah State Aggies at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"Utah State Aggies defender Capriel Winder (41) defends BYU Cougars midfielder Mika Krommenhoek (8) during an NCAA first-round soccer game at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"Utah State Aggies goalkeeper Taylor Rath (00) blocks a shot at the goal during an NCAA first-round soccer game against the BYU Cougars at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"BYU Cougars forward\/midfielder Ellie Walbruch (15) and Utah State Aggies defender Carli Conner (55) fall to the ground after going for the ball during an NCAA first-round soccer game at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"Utah State Aggies goalkeeper Taylor Rath (00) blocks a shot at the goal during an NCAA first-round soccer game against the BYU Cougars at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"Utah State Aggies midfielder\/defender Capriel Winder (41) passes the ball during an NCAA first-round soccer game against the BYU Cougars at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News \"\"BYU Cougars fans cheer as BYU Cougars goalkeeper Chelsea Peterson (00) walks toward the goal during a penalty kick shootout in overtime against the Utah State Aggies during an NCAA first-round soccer game at South Field in Provo on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News <\/p>\n

\u201cTheir run up, their approach, their right foot, left foot, how they plant on the field,\u201d she said. \u201cWe scout them leading up to the game. There is a lot that goes into it, but at the end of the day, it\u2019s kind of my gut.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a sold-out crowd at South Field hanging on every play, BYU faced three elimination kicks, and each time Peterson found a way to keep the Cougars in the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a shootout, it\u2019s on the shooters, not on me,\u201d Peterson said. \u201cSoccer is interesting. It\u2019s not like basketball where all 10 guys get points on the board. There are goal scorers and goal stoppers. In a shootout, the shooters are the ones who win the game for us. Yeah, I make a stop, I do the things I need to do, but they are the ones who win it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Utah State\u2019s final penalty kick went wide of the net and BYU survived 7-6 to advance into the second round. Peterson, 24, believes her current success is directly connected to her mission.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoalkeeping is so much based on decision making. I think a little bit of age on me, a little perspective with the mission has really made me better. I think I can think through things a little bit better, make better decisions,\u201d she said. \u201cI think perspective too, that my world doesn\u2019t revolve around soccer, which it used to. The mission gave (me) a lot of perspective knowing there is so much more to our life and so much higher joy than winning. Jesus Christ is the ultimate joy.\u201d<\/p>\n

The rematch<\/p>\n

BYU (11-6-5) will play UCLA (12-5-3) on Friday at Stanford in the second round of the NCAA Tournament (5 p.m., ESPN+). With Peterson watching from the sideline, the Cougars beat the then-No. 4 Bruins 1-0 in Provo on Aug. 23. Ellie Walbruch, a UCLA transfer<\/a>, scored the lone goal in the 14th minute.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to be a really good matchup,\u201d Peterson said. \u201cUCLA is a real big possession team. They keep the ball. We do as well. I think it\u2019s going to be high-level soccer, which is real fun to play.\u201d<\/p>\n

With another year of eligibility remaining, Peterson\u2019s playing days appear far from over and her life\u2019s story is just getting started \u2014 but what a ride it\u2019s been already and her post-mission, mission remains clear \u2014 keep following the promptings.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust to glorify God. He knows. I just try to do my best to do that. I fall short a lot. But he has a better plan, and you just work super hard to do whatever that is and go all out and it will all work out. If it doesn\u2019t work out now, it\u2019s eventually going to work out,\u201d Peterson said. \u201cWe are in the middle of it now. I don\u2019t know what my journey looks like, because I could not have called this. I\u2019m just super grateful and excited to see what is in the future for myself and this team.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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 \u201cY\u2019s Guys\u201d at ysguys.com and is the author of the children\u2019s book \u201cC is for Cougar,\u201d available at deseretbook.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"With two minutes remaining in the first half of a must-win game at rival Utah on Oct. 30,…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":393766,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[1680,221,62,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-393765","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-soccer","8":"tag-news-feed-local","9":"tag-soccer","10":"tag-sports","11":"tag-united-states","12":"tag-unitedstates","13":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115585663903518325","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/393765","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=393765"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/393765\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/393766"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=393765"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=393765"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=393765"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}