TUCSON, Ariz. – The BYU women’s soccer team outshot Arizona 13-5 in its 2-1 loss to the Wildcats on Friday evening on Murphey Field at Mulcahy Soccer Stadium.
Erin Bailey scored her second goal of the season in tonight’s match against the Wildcats, while Allie Fryer tallied her second assist on the year. Fryer tallied a team-high five shots tonight, her fourth-consecutive game with five or more shots.
The Cougars outshot the Wildcats 13-5, with nine shots on frame. BYU also tallied seven corner kicks to Arizona’s two.
First Half
Arizona saw the first chance on goal, with a shot in the fifth minute right into the hands of BYU goalkeeper Lynette Hernaez.
The Wildcats kept their pressure, going up 1-0 with a goal in the 13th minute as Narissa Fults beat BYU defenders on a breakaway run and shot right past the hands of Hernaez.
In the 19th minute, the Cougars had their third corner kick of the match. Lucy Kesler volleyed the ball from just outside the 18, hitting the top crossbar. BYU held its pressure in Arizona’s defensive third, with another shot by Allie Fryer, cleared out for another corner kick.
Minutes after being subbed into the game, Erin Bailey created some momentum for the Cougars with a run up the field, taken away by a Wildcat defender. After the ball was stolen, Fryer won it back and took a shot with her left foot, missing the goal wide right.
In the 36th minute of the match, Mackenzee Vance moved the ball up the spine of the field and found the feet of Bailey, who beat her defender and fired a shot, hitting off the goalpost.
Although the Wildcats went into halftime with the 1-0 advantage, the Cougars were outshooting them 6-3. BYU also had six corner kicks to Arizona’s zero through the first 45.
Second Half
The Wildcats started the second half strong, with a quick goal in the 46th minute, extending their lead, 2-0.
The Cougars saw a few chances on goal, with a close shot by Fryer in the 59th minute, missing just wide right.
In the 72nd second minute, Fryer dribbled the ball up the right side of the pitch and sent it into the box, tipped by the Arizona goalkeeper. Bailey won the ball out of the air and found the back of the net, bringing the game to 2-1.
The Cougars pressed Arizona’s backline, holding a majority of the possession in their offensive half, firing off several more shots.
Despite a final push by the Cougars, they were unable to score another goal for the draw, falling to the Wildcats, 2-1 Friday night.
The BYU women’s soccer team next travels to Kansas for matchups against Kansas and Kansas State on Oct. 10 and Oct. 14, respectively. BYU’s game against Kansas is scheduled for 5 p.m. MT, with live coverage on ESPN+.