By Collin Bryant | Sports Writer
Baylor soccer outlasted Iowa State 1-0 in overtime on Sunday to earn its first conference win. The win came just two days after suffering a 2-1 overtime loss to No. 5 West Virginia Friday night.
Junior forward Jackie Crowther said it was great to get the win and to see the progress the team has made and continues to make this season.
“It’s definitely rewarding to see all the hard work that we put in this weekend,” Crowther said. “Friday night didn’t go as well as we wanted it to, but it’s really great to be able to see our work just throughout the season, throughout this week, translate into the victory I know we deserved.”
The Bears started the match with some physical play that resulted in two early fouls, but the Cyclones were unable to keep up.
Baylor controlled possession early in the first half, limiting the Cyclones to zero shots on goal within the first 15 minutes.
In the 19th minute, senior midfielder Aline De Lima and Crowther each had shots, but came up empty.
In the 30th minute, Cyclones’ junior forward Klasey Medelberg had an opportunity, but her shot soared over the crossbar.
The Bears continued to dominate possession, collecting four shots on goal.
The Baylor defense was also on its game; Bears’ senior defender Precious Akanyirige, led the way, stopping several Cyclone runs.
Near the end of the half, Akanyirige continued her strong defensive plays with a late stop on Cyclones’ mid-fielder Taylor Wagner, as she had an open lane to the goal. The defensive stop helped keep the score tied 0-0 at halftime.
Freshman center midfielder Ally Henderson continued Baylor’s physical play, receiving a yellow card in the first five minutes of the second half during a physical transition play.
Baylor continued to have scoring chances, tallying three more shots on goal in the first 15 minutes of the second half, but each shot either sailed above or beside the goal post.
Baylor kept the offensive pressure up as the half went on. Sophomore forward Reagan Padgett sent a clear shot over the goal late into the second period. De Lima also had several more shots on goal, but couldn’t get one in the net and the match went into overtime scoreless.
But in the 96th minute, Baylor junior forward Lauren Piercy ended the game with a right-footed goal off an assist from Crowther.
Piercy said that Crowther put her in just the right position to make the play.
“Jackie served one in, and the entire time I was like, ‘All right, we’ve got to somehow put a shot on,’” Piercy said. “Jackie was even calling for the ball back, just in case, because she knew I was there. I saw the defender kind of reading it like I was about to pass it, so I cut and shot.”
Baylor led Iowa State in shots 17-6 and 6-2 on goal while also recording 12 fouls to just three for the Cyclones.
Baylor head coach Paul Jobson acknowledged it was a difficult opening conference weekend, but said it was imperative to get one victory at home.
“When you’re at home, you need to get results. Coming out of Friday night, not getting that result, that really put the pressure on today for sure,” Jobson said. “You know we’re looking at the schedules ahead of time and you look at West Virginia/Iowa State in a weekend, that’s tough.”
Baylor (7-2-1, 1-1-0) hits the road next weekend for a 7 p.m. Friday matchup with Oklahoma University in Norman, Okla. and then a 1 p.m. Sunday match with Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla.
