Robby Hirst | Lariat Photographer
Sports Writer
No. 10 Baylor didn’t miss a beat despite losing some of its best goal scorers from the previous year. Five different players scored on 19 shots as Baylor routed UTSA 5-0 on Friday.
“I think last year we had a lot of really good single goal scorers,” senior forward Vic Hoffman said. “The whole team contributed as a whole, it’s not just one player that’s doing all the work. It’s all of us: forward, midfield and defense to get it in and whoever steps up in that moment, in that game is going to get the goal.”
The Bears set the tone early with a goal by Hoffman in the second minute. Sophomore forward Bri Campos fed the ball to Hoffman who shot it from the right wing over the head of UTSA freshman goalie Katherine Tesno. After a successful first year, Campos displayed a strong showing scoring a goal of her own.
Hoffman wasn’t done using the momentum to her advantage. Five minutes after scoring, Hoffman assisted freshman midfielder Ashley York who scored off a rebound straight in the box.
“It was a great feeling,” York said. “I mean there are some shots that as soon as you hit it, you feel good about it and that was one of them for me. I mean I got set up good in the box and I had time so it worked out well.”
With questions surrounding the offense, senior midfielder Kat Ludlow delivered a goal after a free kick rebounded to her. However, this time she didn’t use her head.
“I was surprised too,” Ludlow said. “Honestly everyone thought I headed it in because I don’t think I’ve scored a goal with my foot in 10 years. I head the ball more than I’m on the ground with it. ”
Junior forward Natalie Huggins was also aggressive scoring a goal after an interception by senior midfielder Alex Klein setting up the goal from the box.
The early goals gave Baylor confidence and players attacked the box. Baylor was physical with players fighting for every ball displaying the ‘team defense’ that Baylor co-head coach Marci Jobson preaches.
“I think we had a lot of girls that stepped up and played hard and played well,” Jobson said. “I consider my defense my team defense. I thought we pressed well and that was our goal to come out and press well. We have been working really hard on it ever since before Notre Dame. We saw some tremendous in that Notre Dame game that were able to help us tonight as we worked on our pressure throughout the week.”
Baylor continued to put pressure on the opposing defense in the second half, but wasn’t able to capitalize due to blocks and high kicks. In the 77th minute, senior midfielder Karlee Summey had the best chance to score in the second half as she kicked the ball with power, but it hit the post.
With the win Baylor is now 6-0-0 against UTSA and 6-0-0 in home openers under the Jobson era. Baylor continues its streaks by winning its 12 straight home match dating back to 2011 in addition to a 22 game unbeaten streak.
Baylor will play Northwestern State at 1 p.m. Sunday at Betty Lou Mays Soccer Field.
