True freshman Lucy Kesler scores first career goal as BYU defeats Houston 3-0 on Senior Night

“Score first, score early and score again” is BYU coach Jennifer Rockwood’s motto.

That’s precisely how BYU women’s soccer executed its 3-0 win over Houston Monday night at South Field on Senior Night.

“Last night we had an opportunity to celebrate with our seniors. We do that the night before our game,” said Rockwood.

The preseason All-Big 12 Team selection and leading goal scorer, Allie Fryer, registered her ninth goal in the 14th minute, controlling a tough pass from Addie Gardner in the box.

Fryer scored last in last week's 3-3 draw against Baylor, earning the fourth brace in her career.

It would also be Gardner's first-ever multi-assist game.

The story of the match was true freshman midfielder Lucy Kesler, or, as her license plate says, “Leftie” Lucy.

“Super excited for Lucy,” Rockwood said. “She’s just had a great year so far. She gets better and stronger with each game. It was finally nice for her to get that one. She has had some good looks. Lucy is a strong player and a great presence on the field for us, and I’ve been really impressed with her development.”

Kesler took Gardner’s pass outside the 18-yard box and buried her shot of the bottom left of the goal off her foot for her first career goal as a BYU Cougar.

“I was super excited to celebrate with my team on the field, but I also have so much love for the girls on the bench that I had to celebrate my first goal with them,” said midfielder Lucy Kesler. “I got the ball from the right side of the field. I had the defender on my back, and I just turned. I was right at the top of the box, working for it. I really wanted to score the past three games. I hit it and knew it was going in so I got super excited."

Kesler enrolled early at BYU, forgoing her senior high season, and was reclassified as a member of the 2024 recruiting class. Her shot would be one of many, as BYU outshot Houston 29-8, with 15 being on net.

“I decided super late,” said Kessler. “It was after my junior year of year school. I told my parents I felt like I needed to be there this year. We created a plan, and I completed my senior year online. I got all my classes done and graduated when I came in here this summer and during preseason. I put my head down and did the work to do what I needed for my teammates.”

The Cougars added another goal in the 52nd minute from Avery Frischknecht.

Frischknecht converted on a BYU corner kick from junior midfielder Sierra Pennock. The local Springville native has had a knack for scoring headers this season. Rockwood likes putting the 5-foot-10 sophomore in the box on set pieces because her height gives her an advantage over other players.

What looked to be a fourth goal from BYU ended up being an offsides call in the 80th minute.

It was a much-needed win for BYU and Houston was ranked 127th in RPI coming into Monday night's matchup.

BYU moves back in front of Utah for fourth place in the Big 12 standings and now will travel to Lubbock, Texas to take on Texas Tech Red Raiders in the regular season finale.

The Cougars and Red Raiders have only met once previously. Last year’s matchup ended in a 2-2 draw on South Field in Provo, Utah.

Texas Tech stands in the way of whether BYU will be the No. 4 or No. 5 seed in the 2024 Sprouts Farmers Market Big 12 Soccer Championship that begins next week in Kansas City.

Friday’s game will be streamed live on ESPN+ at 6:00 p.m. MT.

Celebrating the Seniors on South Field

BYU honored three seniors before the match on Monday night — defenders Lytiana Akinaka and Tara Warner and forward Savannah Hansen.

“Lyti [Lyitana] has been with us since 2018 between a mission and ACL, she’s had quite a journey,” said Rockwood. “She is such a great kid and just works so hard. It was great to get her out here and let her play her final game on South Field.”

"Tara has quite a journey, too. She came in 2020 and struggled with injuries, but then she was finally free and ready to go,” said Rockwood. She had such a great start, and we might not have been able to get off the ground if it hadn’t been for her. We’ve had so many injuries this fall, the girls that are still playing are playing for them.”

“Nan [Savannah Hanses] has just been with us for a year, she grew up on this field as a young kid. We were happy to see her get some minutes tonight," Rockwood said. "They almost scored but were offsides a couple of times, and they all have great careers here for sure.”