Holding on: No. 3 BYU women’s soccer team wins 1-0 against No. 19 Wisconsin in opener | News, Sports, Jobs
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BYU’s Allie Fryer (23) celebrates a goal with her teammates during a women’s college soccer game against Wisconsin at South Field on Thursday, August 15, 2024.
Courtesy of BYU Photo
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BYU goalkeeper Lynette Hernaez, left in black, is greeted by her teammates after a 1-0 win over No. 17 Wisconsin on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, at South Field.
Courtesy of BYU Photo
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A fan of the BYU women’s soccer team reacts during a game at South Field against Wisconsin on Thursday, August 15, 2024.
Courtesy of BYU Photo
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BYU’s Allie Fryer (23) jumps around a Wisconsin player during a women’s college soccer game at South Field, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024.
Courtesy of BYU Photo
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BYU’s Mattyn Summers (27) dribbles the ball forward against Wisconsin during a women’s college soccer game at South Field, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024.
Courtesy of BYU Photo
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BYU’s Mika Krommenhoek (18) heads the ball during a women’s college soccer game against Wisconsin at South Field on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024.
Courtesy of BYU Photo
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BYU’s Allie Fryer (23) celebrates a goal with her teammates during a women’s college soccer game against Wisconsin at South Field on Thursday, August 15, 2024.
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BYU goalkeeper Lynette Hernaez, left in black, is greeted by her teammates after a 1-0 win over No. 17 Wisconsin on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, at South Field.
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A fan of the BYU women’s soccer team reacts during a game at South Field against Wisconsin on Thursday, August 15, 2024.
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BYU’s Allie Fryer (23) jumps around a Wisconsin player during a women’s college soccer game at South Field, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024.
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BYU’s Mattyn Summers (27) dribbles the ball forward against Wisconsin during a women’s college soccer game at South Field, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024.
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BYU’s Mika Krommenhoek (18) heads the ball during a women’s college soccer game against Wisconsin at South Field on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024.
BYU women’s soccer began this season as if it were being played in a mirror universe.
For years, the Cougars won by dominating possession, racking up shots and finally breaking through with a point while their opponents had to take the rest themselves.
Now BYU had to chase No. 19 Wisconsin with a young, inexperienced team on Thursday at South Field as the Badgers dominated time of possession.
The No. 3 Cougars took advantage of fewer opportunities, played uncompromising defense and fought for a 1-0 victory.
“We just wanted to have a lot of energy and control what we could control,” BYU coach Jennifer Rockwood said. “We knew Wisconsin was going to be a good team. I think we gave in, but we didn’t give in. We’re not used to chasing the ball all the time. Wisconsin moved the ball well against us and we didn’t adjust well to that early on.”
Wisconsin (0-1-0) dominated the first half, building a 6-0 lead in corner kicks and scoring more goals than BYU (8-5). But the Cougars withstood the Badgers’ early onslaught and scored in the 16th minute, quickly pushing the ball into the goal area from sophomore Addie Gardner to third-year Erin Bailey.
Bailey’s pass landed in front of junior Allie Fryer and Fryer had a one-on-one opportunity against Wisconsin goalkeeper Drew Stover. Fryer’s shot beat Stover into the left corner to give BYU a 1-0 lead.
“We were often thrown back in our half and couldn’t apply much pressure in attack,” Fryer said. “Finally, we got the ball up on a counterattack and Erin Bailey gets the ball and slides it to me. I touched it and then – I don’t remember exactly what happened – the ball went in. All I remember is screaming so loudly. I lost my vision and was just on autopilot after that.”
Goalkeeper Lynette Hernaez had to make two saves in the first half, including a good opportunity for Wisconsin in the final minute. But Hernaez saved her best save for the second half when she converted the Badgers’ penalty to give them a 1-0 lead.
In the 50th minute, BYU was called for a handball on their own side, which resulted in a penalty for Wisconsin. Maryssa Mahrt shot, but Hernaez dove to the left and deflected the shot.
“The minute they took the penalty spot, I thought, ‘It’s OK, there’s no turning back,'” Hernaez said. “There’s only so much I can do on a penalty spot. My goal is to slowly master the game in my head and just breathe. Pay attention to her, pay attention to her body, just do everything I can to figure out which way she’s going to go.
“I love staying tall and upright, and as soon as she takes it, get ready and go. At the last second, I felt her hips open and I just had to give it my all. I had one hand on it and it was like slow motion. I saw it come out and I had to celebrate. That was such a big moment for me and I screamed.”
Hernaez was brilliant as the Cougars’ goalkeeper all night, finishing with six saves.
“I had so much faith in Lynette,” Fryer said. “We’re roommates and I love the girl to death. I just knew that when it was her turn, she knew what she was doing and that she was a damn beast. So I wasn’t scared in that moment.”
Wisconsin had 12 corner kicks in this category and BYU only one and had more shots on goal overall than the Cougars (17-7), but the Cougars’ defense held firm.
“The most important thing is to keep them wide because they have a terrible shooting angle,” said Hernaez. “In moments like this, communication is the most important thing. I do everything I can to create a wall in front of me. Our defense will always say that we are the wall and that we have to defend the goal. I’m on cloud nine. This was a really entertaining game for me.”
Both teams had previous test losses (BYU 1-0 against Wyoming, Wisconsin 2-0 against Missouri). The Cougars have won seven opening games in a row, the last loss coming in 2017 against Penn State (3-1). BYU also entered the evening with a 19-game home loss streak that stretches back nearly two years.
“We had some great performances from Erin and Allie combining for that goal and that was a relief because we were under pressure,” Rockwood said. “Then Lynette helped us out great. We told Lynette before the season that we might have to rely on her more than we did last year. And she really rose to the challenge tonight. And I’m really proud of our defense. It’s a new defense that was under a lot of pressure and a lot of offense. It was a good learning experience for us against a really good team.”
The Cougars (1-0-0) next have three consecutive away games on the schedule: They travel to St. Louis (next Thursday), Long Beach State (August 24) and UCLA (August 28).
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