Ellie Walbruch: BYU Captain Shining a Different Light Through Soccer's Triumphs and Trials

Get ready for an inspiring episode of Beyond the Game as host Mike Lacy sits down with BYU soccer standout Ellie Walbruch! Ellie shares her remarkable journey from national champion at UCLA to becoming a beacon of BYU soccer's special "light." Raised in a family where soccer wasn't just a game but a way of life, Ellie's unconventional path saw her training with boys' teams throughout high school—a decision that prepared her for collegiate success but meant foregoing traditional high school experiences.

After winning it all as a freshman at UCLA, Ellie received a sign while watching film of BYU before her championship game—a moment that would bring her back to her Utah roots and the program she'd known since childhood. At BYU, she embraced her role coming off the bench to score an impressive 11 goals during their College Cup run, demonstrating how accepting your position on the team can lead to greater collective success.

When Ellie tore her ACL, it could’ve ended everything she’d worked for. But instead of giving up, she leaned hard on her faith. With her family by her side, she turned her comeback into something bigger than just getting back on the field—it became a story of real growth. In this episode, Ellie shows that when you trust God’s plan—even when it looks different than you imagined—you can make a difference that reaches far beyond the game.

Video Chapters

00:00 - Introduction

01:17 - Mike's soccer connections and family athletes

01:54 - Soccer's growing popularity in America

02:34 - World Cup enthusiasm and comparing Messi to Tom Brady

03:05 - BYU NCAA basketball tournament excitement

03:53 - Ellie's high school background

04:22 - The decision to train with boys' teams

05:45 - Skipping high school soccer for development

07:43 - Growing up in a soccer family legacy

08:26 - Father and mother's Division I athletic background

09:01 - Training with boys to improve speed and strength

10:00 - The La Roca club team experience

11:18 - Early recruiting process at age 15

12:11 - UCLA National Championship experience as a freshman

13:22 - Ellie's first collegiate goal

14:04 - Signs leading to transferring to BYU

17:38 - Accepting her role coming off the bench at BYU

19:56 - The strategy behind BYU's powerful bench

21:28 - BYU basketball comparison and tournament hopes

23:33 - Tom Holmoe's special connection with athletes

25:18 - The difference between UCLA and BYU athletic culture

26:48 - The devastating ACL injury moment

28:05 - Receiving a blessing on the field

29:39 - The emotional aftermath of first major injury

31:10 - MRI results and surgical process

33:01 - Ellie's rehabilitation journey

34:12 - Progress in recovery and return to play

35:26 - Looking ahead to Big 12 Championship dreams

36:03 - Soccer field differences across conferences

37:06 - Creative goal celebrations inspired by Marcus Rashford

38:03 - The emotional game against former UCLA teammates

39:12 - The significance of goal celebrations in sports

40:05 - Final thoughts on enjoying the journey

41:00 - Outro