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PROVO — There was nothing exhibitionary about Thursday night for third-rated BYU women's soccer.
Allie Fryer scored a first-half goal, and Lynette Hernaez made six saves, including a penalty kick stop, to help BYU hold off No. 19 Wisconsin 1-0 at South Field in the 2024 season opener for both teams.
Erin Bailey and Addie Gardner each had an assist on Fryer's goal for BYU, which was out-shot by the Badgers 17-7 and only put three shots on target in the Cougars' seventh consecutive season-opening win dating back to 2017.
"We're a team that likes to score 2-3 goals per game, and we didn't score in the exhibitions; 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've liked and let Wisconsin do what they wanted for the first 15 minutes. So it was definitely a big relief from us, and I think we were able to shift the momentum after the game until they came out as strong as ever in the second half."
After going scoreless in a pair of preseason losses to Utah Valley and Wyoming, the Cougars struck first when Fryer broke through in the 17th minute.
The junior from Spanish Fork ripped a right-footed laser into the upper 90, finishing off a pass after Bailey received a ball from Gardner and immediately turned up field to find Fryer that gave BYU its only lead of the night.
"It was just such a great feeling," Fryer said. "We had worked so hard as a team during our practices and the games before. It was nice to finally get one in the back of the goal, and it just kind of took a huge weight off our shoulders. You could feel the momentum shift."
The second the ball hit the back of the net, a wave of relief visibly came over the Cougars. BYU looked a little bit more like the team that had four double-digit scorers and led the country in shots en route to a second NCAA College Cup appearance in three years.
A little bit more, at least. But it was enough.
"I think you could see it throughout the whole field; everyone was screaming and jumping," Hernaez said. "I knew it was going to happen, too. You say we had a rough preseason, but how I see it, we had such big growth for our team. The UVU loss was obviously tough from the school right next door, but we did a good job and stepped up next game unlucky against Wyoming with one goal.
"But this game, I knew we were going to come out, we going to get that goal, and we were going to win. And when that happened, there was a big moment of relief. We all knew it, too."
The Badgers out-shot the hosts 8-5 in the first half, but only put two shots on target, including former Ogden High state runner-up Adee Boer's attempt with about 90 seconds left that was aimed directly at Hernaez.
Hernaez earned her keep in the 61st minute, when Wisconsin was awarded a penalty kick following a handball in the box. But the sophomore from Corona, California, saved Ashley Martinez's placement shot in the lower left corner of the net to keep the Cougars in front.
"I loved to just stay big, stay tall, and get set and go for it," Hernaez said. "There's only so much I can do in a PK, but I was able to read it. I saw her hips open up, and I gave it my all. I got my hand on it, and felt slow motion as my finger got on it and I saw it go out. I had to celebrate; it was such a big moment for me."
The Badgers continued to throw numbers forward, holding the Cougars to just three shots on target and forcing 12 corner kicks to BYU's one.
But a back line led by Avery Frischknecht and Tara Warner in new starting roles kept Wisconsin at bay ahead of a three-match road trip to No. 12 Saint Louis, Big West favorites Long Beach State, and No. 11 UCLA.
"We have to embrace what we were able to do tonight. Wisconsin is a very good team, and Lynette should have a really good confidence booster, as well as for Allie in putting that ball in," Rockwood said. "We relied a lot on Mika Krommenhoek, who I thought played a phenomenal 90 minutes. Lots of good things to take away."
