TEMPE, Ariz. — No. 10 BYU women’s soccer (5-2-1, 0-1 Big 12) fell to Arizona State, 2-1 at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium Thursday evening.
Despite a goal by Presley Freeman in the 85th minute, the Cougars were unable to overcome the deficit, losing their first Big 12 conference matchup of the season. Freeman’s goal was her second of the season, assisted by Mika Krommenhoek.
Missing both Izzi Stratton and Avery Frischknecht in the starting center back positions tonight, Kate Denney and Mattyn Summers-Oviatt saw their second starts of the season.
ASU outshot BYU 16-15, with seven shots on goal compared to BYU’s four. The Cougars led in corner kicks, 8-2, but were unable to convert. Tonight’s aggressive game featured 21 total fouls, 12 of which were on BYU.
First Half
The Sun Devils saw the first shot of the night in the second minute, missed wide left. Although the Cougars saw their first shot of the night in the eighth minute, ASU responded quickly with a goal by Cameron Valladares in the ninth minute, taking the early 1-0 lead.
The Cougar offense started putting more pressure on the Arizona State backline with back-to-back corner kicks in the 21st minute.
In the 36th minute, Halle Dixon sent a ball across the 18-yard box, finding the feet of Emma Hamberlin who fired off a shot, blocked and sent away by the ASU backline.
The Sun Devils led the first half in shots, 9-6, with four on frame compared to BYU’s lone shot on goal by Hamberlin. The Cougars led in corner kicks with five compared to ASU’s two.
BYU sophomore goalkeeper Paiton Collins made three crucial saves in the first half, one being punched up and over the crossbar to hold ASU to just one goal.
Second Half
Just two minutes into the second half, ASU found an open player at the top of the six for a shot on goal, saved by Collins. Just a minute later, the Sun Devils saw another chance on goal, hit off the crossbar and cleared out by freshman Kate Denney.
With the ball taken away from the Cougars at center field, ASU sent a through ball up to Addison Baltodano, who took one touch and scored a left-footed shot to extend its lead, 2-0.
In the 57th minute, Ellie Walbruch found Afton Perry at the top of the 18, who rocketed off a shot, tipped out by ASU defenders.
Walbruch took a left-footed shot of her own in the 60th minute, saved by a diving ASU goalkeeper.
With just five minutes remaining in the match, defender Freeman collected a ball from Krommenhoek inside the box and took a shot with the outside of her foot, deflected off an ASU defender into the net, lessening the lead, 2-1.
Despite the late-game offensive surge by the Cougars, they were unable to find the equalizer, losing to Arizona State, 2-1.
Up Next
BYU returns to South Field for a pair of Big 12 matchups next week, taking on West Virginia on Wednesday, Sept. 24 and Cincinnati on Saturday, Sept. 27. Both games will kick off at 7 p.m. MT with streaming on ESPN+.