The Arizona State Sun Devils (5-1-2, 0-1 Big 12) entered Thursday’s match against the Brigham Young University Cougars (3-3-2, 1-0 Big 12) in unfamiliar territory. It was the first meeting between the two teams in 19 years and the first game in Provo, Utah, in 20 years.
On a chilly night in Provo, Utah, where the temperature reached 57 degrees, the Sun Devils ultimately fell to the Cougars with a final score of 1-0. In what was ASU’s first Big 12 matchup in school history, the Sun Devils couldn’t generate much against a well-structured BYU team under longtime head coach Jennifer Rockwood.
In the game’s first ten minutes, it seemed like BYU was bound to score, with everything going to the junior goalkeeper Pauline Nelles. Later, the Sun Devils built much-needed pressure on the Cougars but couldn’t get a goal on the board.
After a brief scuffle behind the net between Nelles and BYU junior forward Allie Fryer, the teams were still exchanging opportunities, looking to score the match’s first goal. BYU freshman forward Emma Hamberlin had a few chances in the first half but couldn’t capitalize, which was a common theme for both teams.
In the remaining minutes of the first half, while it looked like the teams would head into the locker rooms all knotted up, sophomore defender Avery Frischknecht scored her first career goal, putting the Cougars on top, 1-0.
After halftime, you’d expect a big push from ASU head coach Graham Winkworth and the company, but that was all but the truth: ASU came out flat, and BYU put pressure on all ends of the field. It seemed the Sun Devils couldn’t keep up at times, but they hung on.
BYU then scored again, this time from sophomore forward Caroline Stringfellow, making it 2-0, but the side referee deemed it offside, which was a big break for a Sun Devil team under constant duress from the Cougars.
In the 70th minute, ASU junior forward Cameron Valladares had a chance at a Sun Devil goal to tie the game but hit the crossbar. This was likely ASU’s best play throughout the game, as it was mere inches from being a highlight reel goal.
After more back-and-forth play, ASU couldn’t score the equalizer like they did last Sunday against the Utah Tech Trailblazers, falling to the Cougars 1-0 and registering its first loss of the season.
The Sun Devils remain on the road for the next two as they take on the University of Houston (3-3-1, 0-1 Big 12) on Sept. 19 in The Lone Star State, where they’ll look to get back to their winning ways.
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