'It's about time': No. 7 BYU women's soccer gets first Big 12 home win over K-State

PROVO — The first home win in Big 12 play may have come longer than expected for the BYU women's soccer team, but the Cougars will never forget it.

Allie Fryer and Kendell Petersen each scored a goal in the second half, and Savanna Mason and Lynette Hernaez split the shutout to lift No. 7 BYU to a 2-0 win Monday night over Kansas State in front of a sold-out crowd of 4,881 at South Field.

Brecken Mozingo had two assists for the Cougars (11-1-3, 4-0-3 Big 12), who out-shot the Wildcats 38-6 with 14 shots on goal to Kansas State's one.

BYU's defense held the Wildcats (3-9-3, 1-5-1) without a shot on goal in the second half in collecting the Cougars' first Big 12 home win.

"It's about time. It feels good," BYU coach Jennifer Rockwood said. "I thought Ellie Walbruch was a big difference maker in this game tonight. I'm really proud of her coming in and just making things happen. She helped us put things away."

The Cougars opened the match on the offensive foot, out-shooting the Wildcats 23-2 in the first half. But no combination, whether starters Fryer and Bella Folino or Walbruch and leading scorer Erin Bailey off the bench, could break the deadlock through the break.

BYU put seven shots on goal by halftime to Kansas State's one, and took all nine corner kicks in the first half.

Mason made just one save in the scoreless first half, but the junior from American Fork was replaced by freshman Lynette Hernaez at halftime.

The Cougars put 32 shots on up against Kansas State goalkeeper Murphy Sheaff, who finished with 13 saves.

But on the 11th, Sheaff finally surrendered, when Mozingo's cross into the box found Fryer's backheel to put the Cougars up 1-0 in the 76th minute.

Camryn Jorgensen found Mozingo with the first pass, and the senior from Alta High dribbled toward the corner of the area before slicing a right-footed shot toward the penalty spot, where both Fryer and Walbruch awaited the chance to poach the goal with just one touch.

It just happened to be Fryer's touch, and her first goal since Sept. 21, a 4-0 win over Baylor.

"We were finally able to take a deep breath; I think we were getting a little frustrated," Fryer said. "But we stuck to our game plan, we kept going towards the goal, we weren't flustered and as soon as that ball goes in, some weight lifted off our shoulders. It was nice to get rewarded."

One was nice, but two would've been twice such.

Petersen doubled the advantage in the 83rd minute, taking a ball from Tara Warner set up by Mozingo before laying off the left-footed shot inside the far post for the 2-0 advantage.

"That's what we talked about at halftime: they were dropping so far back that a lot of our defenders were getting run-ins on goal," Rockwood said. "So if we got a run-in, just take it and make them have to take you down. That's how Petey got a great goal. She gets shots and crosses off so effortlessly, it's mind blowing. But when she gets a shot on frame, it typically goes in."

The senior who leads the team with nine assists went down twice in the first five minutes, falling on an outstretched arm. But the Northridge High product dusted herself off and assured the Cougars' win, adding a stop on a Kansas State breakaway late in the second half to keep the clean sheet to go along with her first goal of the regular season.

"I was really glad that one went one — although I would've loved an assist, too," she said. "I'm totally happy with an assist."

Historically, two goals should have been plenty against Kansas State, which lost for the fifth time in six matches by a 2-0 scoreline. The Wildcats were coming off their first Big 12 win of the year, 1-0 over newcomer Houston on Thursday.

Kansas State also had only surrendered more than two goals once all season, a 4-0 home loss to Nebraska back on Sept. 3. The Wildcats also haven't scored more than one goal since Aug. 24, a 2-0 win over UTSA.

So if one goal broke things down, the second goal proved doubly vital.

"It was a huge relief," Petersen said. "I thought we could sit back … but then I saw an opportunity to get forward, and two is always better than one."

BYU takes sole possession of third place in the Big 12 with three matches remaining, a 15-point total that is just three points behind No. 23 TCU and four behind No. 7 Texas Tech.

The Cougars have one home match remaining, Monday, Oct. 23 against UCF before the Big 12 Tournament, set for Oct. 28-Nov. 4 in Round Rock, Texas.

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