Baylor soccer hopes to extend its seven game win streak on the road tonight against Kansas.
After beating Iowa State last Friday night with a first half goal, the Bears (7-4-1) look to keep the momentum going against the Jayhawks (6-5-1).
“Kansas always has great support,” said head coach Paul Jobson. “They always have a great team, and just being on the road in another team’s home environment is always going to be the toughest challenge.
“They have some attacking players that we are going to have to account for,” Jobson said. “We are defensive mind type of team, and we have been able to be very strong defensively.”
The Bears are 2-0 in conference play and are on the team’s best run since 2012.
“We’re just happy with the way the girls are playing right now,” Jobson said. “It’s definitely one day at a time.”
With three freshmen receiving the Big 12 Newcomer of the week honor three weeks in a row, the Bears are poised to continue strong in the season.
“I’m proud of the way they have been able to step up and make an impact in the program,” Jobson said. “All we can control is what we’re going to do today and get better. The girls are results of what they have been doing day in and day out.”
Freshman midfielder Sarah King hopes to add to her nine assists. She ranks No. 3 in the nation and leads the Big 12 in assists.
“It’s always fun to travel with the team,” King said. “I’m looking forward to that and getting out there and hopefully getting another win.”
It going to be a challenge for both teams to get the ball in the net due to strong goalkeepers. For the Bears, junior goalkeeper Sara Martinson has only allowed six goals, saving .684 percent, and recording four shutouts.
Jayhawks sophomore goalie Maddie Dobyns has also impressed by allowing 12 goals, saving .774 percent of them, and getting three shutouts.
Jobson said it is important to play each game like it’s the last.
“We’re not guaranteed anything,” Jobson said. “We aren’t guaranteed today, we aren’t guaranteed tomorrow and just having the opportunity to get out and play another match is what we’re looking forward to.”
The Jayhawks are 1-1 in conference play, have won four of their last five games and are a tough team, Jobson said.
“Our conference is pretty tight in the top and bottom. On any given day, anybody can beat anybody,” Jobson said. “There are some great tools that you get when you are at home. We’ve just got to do what we do, have to prepare for any team. We know that they know they can beat anybody too, so it’s going to be a tough match.”
“It’s not a team of individual superstars, it is a team,” Jobson said. “You can be down two players and still beat a top team. No matter who is on the field we are going to be able to compete.”
Baylor athletics travel to Lawrence, Kan. on multiple fronts this weekend, with the Bears football team also in action against KU on Saturday.
Anyone going to the football game should definitely stop by and watch some “fútbol”, Jobson said.
“You’re talking about an 11 a.m. football game on Saturday,” Jobson said. “I think most people that are going to go are probably going to be there Friday night. So, a 7 p.m. game on a Friday is a great way to start the weekend of the Bears in Lawrence, Kansas.”
