The Baylor Bears’ soccer team finished last weekend with a perfect 2-0 record, extending its winning streak to five games. The Bears’ second victory of the weekend was also Baylor soccer’s 200th win in program history.
Both matches were played in Colorado Springs, Colo. The first match saw Baylor take on the Air Force Falcons. The Bears won the contest 2-1 off a pair of second-half goals.
In the 49th minute, McKenna Martin netted a goal off a Sarah King assist. King threaded the ball to Martin, who used some moves and agility to battle through the Air Force defenses. After getting past the defense, Martin put the ball in back of the net from 20 yards out.
For Martin, the goal was her fourth of the season, giving her the team lead. On King’s part, the assist was her sixth of the season. In the 87th minute, King earned her seventh assist, furthering her team lead.
King found Lauren Piercy downfield, gifting Piercy with a one-on-one chance with the keeper. Piercy coolly chipped the ball over the head of the Falcons’ keeper, giving the Bears a 2-0 advantage.
The Falcons would attempt a comeback, with Ally Swift soaring over the Baylor defense for a header in the 89th minute. Baylor held on to their 2-1 lead until the final whistle, earning their fourth straight win in the process.
“I’m proud of the girls for staying the course, even though we didn’t score in the first half when we had some really good chances, and it paid off,” said Baylor head coach Paul Jobson. “We made a couple of minor adjustments at half, but the girls pushed through and then weathered the storm at the end.”
Following the 2-1 Air Force victory, the Bears challenged the Colorado College Tigers on Sunday. The Bears shut out the Tigers 2-0, extending their win streak to five games.
Sarah King and Lauren Piercy connected for a goal again against the Tigers, this time in the 20th minute. King feed Piercy at the top of the box for a 23-yard bomb to the top right corner.
King’s three-assist weekend is evidence of her stellar play the last two weeks. Coming off a weekend in which she was named Big 12 Freshman of the Week, King increased her assist total to eight which leads the Big 12.
Piercy’s goal also tied her with McKenna Martin for the team lead at four goals. Piercy also managed an assist of her own in the contest, finding Jackie Crowther for a chip shot goal in the 37th minute.
Baylor’s defense controlled the rest of the game, allowing the Tigers to only put up 3 shots total on the evening.
Over the span of the Bears’ five-game winning streak, they have scored 21 goals while only allowing two.
Aggressive shot-taking and stingy defense will be key to the Bears’ upcoming conference play.
Baylor will look to continue its winning ways as they host the Oklahoma State Cowgirls 7 p.m. Friday at Betty Lou Mays Field.
