LARAMIE – BYU arguably has the best home crowd advantage in NCAA women's soccer.
 
The fourth-ranked Cougars opened the regular season with a 1-0 victory over then-No. 19 Wisconsin last week at South Field.
 
It was the seventh consecutive season BYU has won its home opener. The program's all-time home record is 247-29-16.
 
But goalkeeper Haley Bartel was a human mute button during Wyoming's 1-0 victory on Aug. 9 in front of a crowd of over 4,000, including a strong contingent of vocal students standing on bleachers right behind her goal.
 
"Overall, I think defensively we had a really strong game, but we wouldn't have walked out of there with a win without her," defender Lily Brongo said. "I'm excited for what she can show this season and what our entire back line can do this season."
 
Bartel made nine saves in the exhibition against the Cowgirls' former Mountain West rivals. BYU is the preseason favorite in the Big 12.
 
The sophomore's performance carried over during a 0-0 draw in the regular-season opener last Thursday at Washington. The Huskies are now a member of the Big Ten.
 
"Nothing short of amazing, to say the least," Bartel said of UW's impressive start to the season. "We've all clicked as a defense. The center backs and outside backs in front of me have been clicking and doing a really good job with our structure to hold teams off. I'm there for them when they need me and they're there for me when I need them, so it has been perfect. We're all working in unison."
 
Bartel's swagger during the shutout in Provo and four-save performance to keep a clean sheet in Seattle has given her teammates a lot of confidence to begin UW's daunting non-conference slate.
 
"She's incredible. She is so good," senior Alyssa Bedard said. "That environment (at BYU) was incredible. I think that's probably the most people most of us will ever play in front of. To bring the energy to a place like that where they have so much support and such a huge fan base was really cool. It showed us what we can do even in environments like that. I think that left us all excited for what's next."
 
The Cowgirls (0-0-1) play Colorado on Thursday night at Prentup Field in Boulder. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+).
 
The Buffaloes (1-1-0), who have moved from the Pac-12 back to the Big 12, were in the NCAA Tournament last season and nearly knocked off No. 8 North Carolina in their previous game.
 
"Nothing changes no matter who we're playing," Bartel said. "If we just keep playing the way we know how to play the opponent doesn't matter. Our hardest enemy is ourselves. As long as we keep playing the way we know how to play, we'll be just fine. Clearly, we've proved that."
 
First-year head coach Josh Purdum has been pleased with UW's defensive shape and Bartel's efficacy in front of the net. Assistant Sydney Drinkwater, who works with the goalkeepers, was retained from the previous staff.
 
"She's constantly vocal," Purdum said of Bartel. "Our goalkeeper coach has done a really nice job making sure she's controlling what she can control. Wearing the gloves she's got to control the tempo of the game, be vocal and help solve problems as they come. Obviously, (BYU) gave us a lot of problems and she was able to keep a cool head to keep us in the game."
 
Bartel, who is from Gilbert, Ariz., said she experienced a bit of a culture shock last season when she arrived from metropolitan Phoenix to begin her collegiate career at 7,220 feet.
 
But that had more to do with weather than fitting in with the Cowgirls, who were coming off a MW regular-season championship.
 
"I knew I always wanted to come to a small town for college," Bartel said. "This has been the most amazing experience, and I'm so happy I'm here every single day. It's really the best place I could have ended up."
 
Bartel started eight games in 2023, allowing 15 goals with 32 saves. UW was 3-4-1 with the freshman in net during a disappointing campaign that feel short of lofty preseason expectations.
 
Purdum publicly thanked the returning players for sticking with the program after the late coaching change in the spring.
 
"The girls here are my best friends and every single day I look forward to seeing them and being with each other and making each other smile and all that," Bartel said. "There was never a doubt in my mind. I love it here, love the program, love the school. Just because we get a new coach doesn't mean there's going to be crazy changes. We still have a good team, and we still all know each other.
 
"Obviously, I'm glad I stayed because Josh is an amazing coach, and we all love him to death and want to win just as much as he wants us to win.
 
UW will host South Dakota State, another team that made the 2023 NCAA Tournament field, in the home opener at noon on Sunday at the Madrid Sports Complex.
 
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