By Greg DeVries
The No. 20 Baylor women’s soccer team certainly found a flair for the dramatic over the weekend after two nail-biting victories over conference foes Texas and Iowa State.
Friday’s victory over the Texas Longhorns came in double overtime, but not after some late-game drama. Senior forward Dana Larsen scored what appeared to be a game-winning goal in the 80th minute of the game.
Larsen fired a shot from about 30 yards away. The ball landed in front of Longhorn freshman goalkeeper Abby Smith. It appeared as though Smith would make a routine save, but the ball took an odd bounce and went over Smith’s head and into the goal.
Texas kept their heads in the game and didn’t quit. With just a minute and a half left in the game, Longhorn sophomore midfielder Sharis Lachappelle took a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box. Lachappelle floated a kick towards the goal, but sophomore goalkeeper Michelle Kloss couldn’t get in front of it. The ball traveled into the goal, and the game headed into overtime.
With five minutes to go in the second overtime, Larsen sent the ball in front of the Texas goal. Sophomore midfielder Alexa Wilde was able to deflect the ball towards the goal and past the keeper for the game winner. The goal was Wilde’s second of her career.
“I am just really proud of Alexa,” head coach Marci Jobson said. “There is not one kid on our team that has continued to work on her weakness more than her…Tonight she was a difference maker.”
On Sunday, the Iowa State Cyclones came to town and played a very physical game.
In the 89th minute of the match, senior forward Lisa Sliwinski received a pass over the top from junior defender Selby Polley. Sliwinski took a few touches into the box and let the ball go from about five yards out.
“Lisa is so dangerous on any opportunities she gets,” Jobson said. “She was able to bury it and give us an awesome goal.”
The Bears held on for the remaining minute to win.
Baylor is now 13-1-4 on the year, and will conclude its regular season at 7 p.m. Friday home against TCU.
