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PROVO — Avery Frischknecht's first goal of her college career might go down as a "header," but, truthfully, the BYU center back took the ball off her chest and guided it in with her stomach in a 1-0 win over Arizona State.
They all count the same, but Monday night's header was more true.
Frischknecht scored the match-winner, and MacKenzee Vance added another as the Cougars took a 3-1 win over Iowa State to wrap up a three-match homestead in Big 12 play Monday night at South Field.
Mika Krommenhoek had two assists, her third goal contribution in two matches after the freshman from Maple Mountain scored her first collegiate goal last Thursday in a 2-2 draw with Oklahoma State.
"Since we've moved (Krommenhoek) up to a more attacking role, she's really provided us a lot more offense. Moving Mack up top with Allie has helped that, too," BYU coach Jennifer Rockwood said. "But I think Mika is just growing in confidence and experience; she had never played that much of an attacking role in her youth. I think she's a natural, and that's why we moved her up there. She's getting better and better with each game, creating some great opportunities.
"If we just keep things simple, I think we can be good. Sometimes we just make it harder than it needs to be."
BYU (5-4-3, 3-1-1 Big 12) out-shot the visitors 16-7, but only put six shots on goal to the Cyclones' two in a game that featured 33 combined fouls — a season-high at South Field.
But no foul mood Monday night, as the Cougars responded with pressure and possession to take their third straight result and fourth in the last five games.
"That's one of the things that we've been working on, coming out and being aggressive," Vance said. "It's not getting knocked off the ball, but knocking them off the ball first.
"We want to show that we come to play, and that we want to win this game."
Allie Fryer gave the Cougars an early advantage in the 21st minute, notching her fourth goal in as many games.
The junior from Maple Mountain took a pass from former high school teammate Krommenhoek, rounded one defender, and buried a right-footed shot inside the far post for her sixth goal of the year.
Lauren McConnell equalized just three minutes before halftime for the Cyclones (3-6-3, 1-2-1 Big 12), taking a pass from Jordyn Herrera on the right wing, driving at Ella Rustand, and crossing the ball from near her own end line that bent inside the far post en route to a 1-1 deadlock.
Fryer appeared to break the deadlock in the 54th minute, but the goal was called back for a handball.
Likewise for Krommenhoek, who had an opportunity on a counter attack in the 58th minute before her shot skirted over the crossbar.
Instead, it was Rustand who found Frischknecht with a free kick off the back post for the go-ahead goal.
After Sierra Pennock earned a foul outside the box, Rustand whipped in a left-footed rocket that found Frischknecht's forehead, caroming off a defender and into the back of the net.
"We went through those today," Rockwood said of the set-piece scenario. "We did some good things, and some things that we still need to practice. But it's just about serving dangerous balls in tight and have players that cause chaos. It's a little different approach than we had last season, but we've already been more successful.
"Ella put in a fantastic ball, we had people there, and sometimes you just need to touch it."
Vance added a late goal, finishing off a right-footed shot in front of goal after Krommenhoek slid her second assist into the box for a second-straight match with a goal.
"We're finally getting that connection down, not just Mika and I but everyone on the team," said Vance, who also scored against the Cowboys. "We're all starting to make those connections, and it's getting some good goals and some results."
The Cougars hit the road for three-straight, beginning Friday at Arizona (7 p.m. MDT, ESPN+).
