TUCSON, Ariz. – Despite outshooting Arizona 13-5, the BYU women’s soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to the Wildcats on Friday at Murphey Field in 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 had a team-high five shots tonight, her fourth-consecutive game with five or more shots.

Nine of the Cougars shots were on frame. BYU also managed seven corner kicks to Arizona’s two.

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.

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.

BYU 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+.

No. 15 Arizona State sweeps women’s volleyball

TEMPE, Ariz. — No. 20 BYU women’s volleyball dropped a three-set match at No. 15 Arizona State (17-25, 17-25, 20-25) at Desert Financial Arena on Friday night.

The Cougars (9-5, 2-2 Big 12) hit a season-low .124, the second-straight match that they have posted a season-low hitting percentage. Arizona State hit .284 in the contest and recorded 10 more kills, two more aces, six more digs and one more block than BYU.

Dropping to 2-2 in Big 12 play after their second-consecutive loss in conference, the Cougars were again led by Claire Little, who recorded nine kills and nine digs, and Alex Bower, who was a dig shy of another double-double with 24 assists and nine digs.

Hannah Billeter recorded a team-high 13 digs, while Lulu Uluave had eight. Kjersti Strong, Brielle Kemavor and Bower each tallied two blocks. Little, Elli Mortensen and Bower all had one ace apiece.Arizona State went on an 8-0 run in Set 1, spanning a BYU timeout, to lead 10-3. The Cougars then responded with a 6-0 run, spanning a Sun Devil timeout, to tie the set at 11-11.

ASU took seven of the next 11 points to go in front 18-14, forcing BYU’s second timeout. A 5-0 Sun Devil run then made it 23-15, and Arizona State finished things off four plays later, 25-17.Trailing 6-2 in Set 2, the Cougars called their first timeout. Both teams traded points before a pair of 3-0 runs by BYU that featured two Little kills, a quick hitter by Kemavor and an Alex Bower ace tied the set at 12-apiece.

ASU responded by scoring five of the next six points to gain a 17-13 advantage, and BYU took its second timeout. Then down 19-15, the Sun Devils scored four straight before again closing things out four plays later, 25-17.A pair of 3-0 runs had Arizona State leading 8-4 in the early going of Set 3. Trading points, ASU remained in front through 16-11, where BYU took its second timeout.

BYU received aces from Mortensen and Little to draw within three, at 20-17, Arizona State, and the Sun Devils called a timeout. Elyse Stowell and Kjersti Strong both scored as the Cougars fought to stay in it, but ASU eventually sealed the sweep, 25-20.BYU will return to Provo for two more ranked matchups against No. 14 Baylor and No. 22 TCU next week. The Cougars and Bears will face off on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. MDT, with the match televised on FS1.

Vander Haar added to Ray Guy Watchlist

AUGUSTA, Georgia — The Augusta Sports Council and the Ray Guy Award have named BYU punter Sam Vander Haar to the Ray Guy Award Watchlist for 2024.

Vander Haar, a sophomore from Melbourne, Australia, executed the first fake punt of his collegiate career at Baylor, running for 22 yards and a Cougar first down to help No. 22 BYU defeat the Bears 34-28 in Waco. The fourth down conversion eventually led to a field goal and a 34-21 lead in the fourth quarter. On the day, Vander Harr had three punts, averaging 51.0 yards per kick, including a key 70-yard boot late in the fourth quarter that pinned Baylor down at the 3-yard line.

Through five games, Vander Haar has 14 punts for 617 yards for an average of 44.1 yards per kick, tied for 29th in the nation. In addition, he has pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line six times.

The Augusta Sports Council created the Ray Guy Award in 2000 to honor Thomson, Georgia, native and College and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Ray Guy. Among the statistics used to determine the winner of the Ray Guy Award each year are total yards, net punting average, punts downed or kicked out of bounds inside the 20-yard line and net punting average. The winner must also display leadership, self-discipline and have a positive impact on the team’s success.

The Ray Guy Award committee will announce 10 semifinalists for the award on Nov. 15. A national body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, media representatives and previous Ray Guy Award winners will then vote for the top three finalists to be announced on Nov. 26. After the finalists are named, the voting body will cast ballots to select the nation’s top punter for 2024.

The winner of the 2004 Ray Guy Award will be announced live during The Home Depot College Football Awards Show airing on ESPN on Dec. 12.