BYU Roundup: Women’s soccer picked to finish third in Big 12
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- BYU freshman Lucy Kesler dribbles the ball against Iowa State in a Big 12 women’s soccer match at South Field on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024.
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- BYU sophomore running back LJ Martin runs the ball up the field during the game against Southern Illinois at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024.
The BYU women’s soccer team was ranked No. 3 in the Big 12 Preseason Poll, while the Preseason All-Big 12 Team bolstered five Cougars, the league announced Tuesday.
BYU tied Texas Tech for the most players on the preseason team with five each. Izzi Stratton, Avery Frischknecht, Mika Krommenhoek, Lucy Kesler and Mackenzee Vance have all been named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team ahead of the 2025 season.
After missing the 2024 season while serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Stratton returns to the pitch with veteran experience. As a member of the starting lineup for the 2023 College Cup team, Stratton was named to the NCAA College Cup All-Tournament Team.
Frischknecht played every minute of every game last season in the center back position, bolstering four goals and 1,890 minutes. After a strong sophomore year, she was named to the All-Big 12 First Team.
Krommenhoek started every game last season as a true freshman. She led the team in assists with four and also totaled three goals and 31 shots. She was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team and All-Big 12 All-Freshman Team following her first season as a Cougar.
Kesler played in 19 games and started in 12 as a true freshman in 2024. She tallied one goal and three assists, earning her All-Big 12 All-Freshman Team honors.
In her first season with the Cougars after transferring from UCLA, Vance was the second-highest scorer with seven goals on the year. She also added 44 shots and one assist, earning her All-Big 12 Second Team honors.
After finishing the 2024 season ranked fourth in the Big 12 conference, the Cougars received one first place vote and a total of 191 votes in the 2025 preseason poll. TCU took the top spot with 13 first place votes and 223 total votes, followed by Texas Tech who earned two first place votes and 202 total votes. West Virginia and Kansas rounded out the top five teams in the preseason poll with 172 and 167 votes, respectively.
The Cougars welcome nine new freshmen to the roster and welcome home two returned missionaries.
The Cougars will be back on South Field Wednesday evening for an exhibition match against Southern Utah at 8 p.m. MT.
Big 12 Preseason Poll
2025 Big 12 Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll
Ranking Team Votes (1st place votes)
1. TCU 223 (13)
2. Texas Tech 202 (2)
3. BYU 191 (1)
4. West Virginia 172
5. Kansas 167
6. Colorado 155
7. Oklahoma State 153
8. Arizona 113
9. Utah 112
10. Baylor 108
11. Arizona State 98
12. UCF 72
13. Cincinnati 57
14. Iowa State 40
15. Houston 38
16. Kansas State 19
2025 All-Big 12 Women’s Soccer Preseason Team
Kierra Blundell, F, Arizona State
Tyler Isgrig, F, Baylor
Avery Frischknecht, D, BYU
Izzi Stratton, D, BYU
Mika Krommenhoek, MF, BYU
Lucy Kesler, MF, BYU
Mackenzee Vance, MF, BYU
Jordan Nytes, GK, Colorado
Faith Leyba, D, Colorado
Ava Priest, MF, Colorado
Hope Leyba, F, Colorado
Carolina Castans, D, Kansas
Lexi Watts, F, Kansas
Saige Wimes, F, Kansas
Jazmin Brown, D, Oklahoma State
Xcaret Pineda, MF, Oklahoma State
Lauden Wilson, MF, Oklahoma State
Cameron Patton, D, TCU
Morgan Brown, MF, TCU
Seven Castain, F, TCU
Bella Diorio, F, TCU
Faith Nguyen, GK, Texas Tech
Macy Blackburn, D, Texas Tech
Martin, Grimes earn spots on college football watch lists
For a second consecutive season, BYU running back LJ Martin has been named a preseason candidate for the Doak Walker Award as announced today by PwC SMU Athletic Forum.
Since 1990, the Doak Walker Award has been presented annually to the nation’s best collegiate running back. Former BYU consensus All-American Luke Staley won the prestigious award in 2001.
Earlier in July, Martin was named Preseason All-Big 12 Second Team by Athlon Sports for the upcoming football season. The 6-2, 220-pound running back from El Paso, Texas, wrapped up his sophomore campaign by being named the 2024 Valero Alamo Bowl Offensive MVP after leading BYU to a 36-14 win over Colorado.
Martin led BYU in rushing with 723 yards on 138 carries (5.2 per attempt) and seven touchdowns as a sophomore in 2024 and received College Football Network All-Big 12 honorable mention. In addition, he earned back-to-back Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award National Player of the Week honorable-mention recognition for performances versus Arizona and Oklahoma State.
BYU long snapper Garrison Grimes has been named to the watch list for the 2025 Patrick Mannelly Award, presented annually to the top long snapper in college football.
Grimes, a 6-2, 220-pound senior from American Fork, Utah, appeared in 31 games as the long snapper for Baylor over the past three seasons (2020-22) before transfering to BYU for the 2025 season. He also handled snapping duties for field goals and PAT and tallied two tackles on special teams for the Bears. He is the son of Jeff Grimes, former BYU offensive coordinator and offensive line coach and current offensive coordinator at Wisconsin.
