PROVO – Thursday night was anything but an exhibition match for the BYU women’s soccer team.
Allie Fryer scored a first-half goal and Lynette Hernaez saved six shots, including a penalty, to help BYU beat No. 19 Wisconsin 1-0 in the opening game of the 2024 season for both teams at South Field.
Erin Bailey and Addie Gardner each had an assist on Fryer’s goal for BYU, which was outscored 17-7 by the Badgers and had just three shots on goal in the Cougars’ seventh consecutive season-opening victory since 2017.
“We’re a team that likes to score 2-3 goals a game, and we weren’t scoring any goals in the tryouts. There was that pressure,” BYU coach Jennifer Rockwood said. “And also the way we started. We didn’t start the game as well as we would have liked and let Wisconsin do what they wanted for the first 15 minutes. So we were definitely very relieved, and I think we were able to turn the momentum around after the game until they came out as strong as ever in the second half.”
After failing to score a single point in two preseason losses to Utah Valley and Wyoming, the Cougars struck with Fryer’s breakthrough in the 17th minute.
The junior from Spanish Fork fired a laser shot into the top 90 yards with his right foot and completed a pass after Bailey received a ball from Gardner, then immediately turned forward and found Fryer, who gave BYU its only lead of the night.
“It was just a great feeling,” Fryer said. “We had worked so hard as a team during our practices and the games leading up to that. It was nice to finally get one in the net and it took a huge weight off our shoulders. You could feel the momentum shifting.”
The second the ball hit the net, a wave of relief was palpable among the Cougars. BYU looked a little more like the team that scored in double figures four times and led the country in shots on goal en route to its second NCAA College Cup appearance in three years.
A little more, at least. But it was enough.
“I think you could see it all over the field; everyone was screaming and jumping,” Hernaez said. “I knew it was going to happen, too. They say we had a rough preseason, but in my opinion our team has improved so much. The loss to UVU, the school right next door, was obviously tough, but we did a good job and improved in the next game, even though we were unlucky by one goal against Wyoming.
“But in this game, I knew we were going to come out and score the goal and win. And when that happened, there was a huge moment of relief. We all knew that.”
The Badgers had more shots on goal than the hosts in the first half (8-5), but only put two of their shots on goal, including an attempt by former Ogden High runner-up Adee Boer with about 90 seconds left that was aimed directly at Hernaez.
Hernaez earned her victory in the 61st minute when Wisconsin was awarded a penalty after a handball in the box. But the sophomore from Corona, Calif., parried Ashley Martinez’s shot into the bottom left corner of the net to keep the Cougars ahead.
“I just wanted to stay tall and upright, get ready and go,” Hernaez said. “There’s only so much I can do on a penalty kick, but I was able to read it. I saw her hips open and I did my best. I put my hand on it and felt slow motion as my finger hit it and I saw it go out. I had to celebrate; it was such a big moment for me.”
The Badgers continued to charge forward with great strength, allowing only three shots on goal by the Cougars and forcing 12 corner kicks to one for BYU.
But a defense led by Avery Frischknecht and Tara Warner in new starting positions kept Wisconsin in check before a three-game road trip to No. 12 Saint Louis, Big West favorites Long Beach State and No. 11 UCLA.
“We have to appreciate what we accomplished tonight. Wisconsin is a very good team and Lynette should get a real confidence boost, as well as Allie who brought the ball in. We relied a lot on Mika Krommenhoek, who I thought played a phenomenal 90 minutes. We can take a lot of good things with us.”
