Manhattan, Kan. — The BYU women’s soccer team earned a 1-0 victory against Big 12 Conference opponent Kansas State on Monday evening at Buser Family Park, moving to 6-5-4 this season.
"I think we've made a lot of progress this year," said Jennifer Rockwood, BYU head coach. "It's our first win on the road this season, so we'll take it. We are deep into the season, with a few games left, and I think our young players have shown great improvements. We still have a lot of work to do, but we are on the right path."
Erin Bailey scored BYU’s lone goal in the 22nd minute, her fourth on the season and third consecutive game with a goal.
BYU has scored first in every one of its victories this season. This is also BYU’s fourth shutout of the season, and first victory while not playing on South Field.
First Half
The Cougars applied pressure early, with an assertive six shots in the first 20 minutes of the match. Bailey earned back-to-back shots, both on target, in the fifth and eighth minutes. Allie Fryer created another scoring chance for BYU, sending a cross towards the goal but was unable to connect with her teammates. Mackenzee Vance also earned a shot-on-goal, with the ball deflecting off the top of the woodwork in the 16th minute.
In the 22nd minute the Cougars would find the back of the net as Mika Krommemhoek found a gap, sending the ball to Vance. Vance delayed slighly and found Bailey with a pass inside the box. Bailey fired the ball to bottom-left corner of the net for BYU to take a 1-0 lead.
After much back-and-forth, BYU tallied nine shots-on-goal, holding Kansas State to just one on target at the conclusion of the half. The Cougars also outshot the Wildcats in total shots 11-5. Bailey led all players with four shots in the first half, three being on target.
Second Half
Avery Frischknecht took BYU’s first shot from distance at minute mark 52 to open the second half. Back-to-back shots by Caroline Stringfellow and Emma Neff gave Kansas State 10 saves on the night in the 65th minute.
Kansas State saw its first shot-on-goal of the second half in the 75th minute on a dangerous shot from the Wildcats. The ball just sailed past the top of the crossbar, off the hands of Lynette Hernaez, her second save of the night.
The Wildcats caught another glimpse at an equalizer late in the 84th minute, off a corner kick when a header by Jazmin Brown was quickly cleared off the goal line by BYU’s freshman defender Presley Freeman.
BYU’s crucial defensive efforts toward the end of the second half allowed the Cougars to hold on, securing the 1-0 victory though 90 minutes.
Up Next
BYU will return to Provo for a matchup against Baylor this week on Thursday, Oct. 17 on South Field at 7 p.m. MDT, with live coverage on ESPN+.