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BYU's Avery Frischknecht (4) and Jacey Wood celebrate after Frischknecht scores a goal against Arizona State in a Big 12 women's soccer match at South Field on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU's Mattyn Summers (27) works the ball past Arizona State defender Olivia Coleman during a Big 12 women's soccer match at South Field on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU students react during pregame of a Big 12 women's soccer match between the Cougars and Arizona State at South Field on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU's Avery Frischknecht (raising hand) celebrates with her teammates after scoring a goal against Arizona State in a Big 12 women's soccer match at South Field on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU’s tough preseason schedule paid off in a big way to open Big 12 play.

The Cougars played five ranked teams to open the season and posted a 2-3-2 mark heading into Thursday’s Big 12 opener against unbeaten Arizona State. The Cougars found a way to score just before the end of the first half and held on for a 1-0 victory in front of 3,826 fans at South Field.

Sierra Pennock’s shot that Nelles parried over the goal with just under three minutes to play in the first half resulted in a BYU corner kick. Pennock’s serve was well placed and Avery Frischknecht managed to finesse the ball past a couple of sprawling Sun Devils right in front of the goal for a 1-0 halftime lead.

“It was surreal,” said Frischknecht, a sophomore from Mapleton who scored her first career goal. “I was just so excited. I feel so grateful to be on this team and to get that goal, finally. It was awesome. It was a corner kick and it was a great ball from Sierra. I just saw it go right over the back line and I hit it with my stomach, not even my head. So whatever works, right?”

Neither team created many scoring opportunities early. BYU’s Tara Warner made a slick defensive play to keep Arizona State off the board. Emma Hamberlin’s steal resulted in a good opportunity for Addie Gardner but she couldn’t finish the play. Hamberlin also worked herself free with some great footwork moments later but her shot sailed high. Mika Krommenhoek and Pennock also had long, dangerous shots that kept ASU goalkeeper Pauline Nelles busy.

In the second half, Allie Fryer drew a foul just outside the 18-yard line for a free kick in the 51st minute but Fryer powered the ball over the crossbar. In the 61st minute, Caroline Stringfellow kicked in a shot off a Lucy Kessler’s corner but was ruled offside.

The BYU defense withstood a couple of good Sun Devil opportunities created on corner kicks to hold on to its slim lead and kept the visitors from evening things up to secure an important Big 12 victory.

“Our schedule prepared us really well,” Frischknecht said. “We played against some really good teams. We learned a lot and we became a better team. So now we’re wiping the slate clean and we’re ready to get going and that his big win and keep it rolling.”

For Arizona State (5-1-2 overall, 0-1-0 Big 12), it was its first women’s soccer match as a Big 12 school.

BYU outshot the Sun Devils 22-8 and put nine shots on goal to the visitor’s two.

The Cougars (3-3-2, 1-0-0) will make their first league road trip next Thursday to Fort Worth and plays TCU, with game time at 6 p.m. MT.