By Adam Gibson | Sports Writer
No. 17-ranked Baylor soccer suffered their first loss of the season Friday night, losing to South Florida in Tampa, Fla. by a score of 3-1.
Unlike the first two games, the Bears (2-1) got off to a slow start, getting only five shots off, compared to USF’s 12. Out of those 12 shots, USF was able to find the back of the net on two of them within five minutes of each other and held the Bears to no goals for 45 minutes.
One category the Bears led in was in fouls with a total of 7-1, with senior forward/midfielder Kennedy Brown receiving the first yellow card of the season for the squad.
The physical game continued into the second half and USF’s lead grew when a ball sneaked past the Bears and the lead jumped to 3-0 in the Bulls’ favor.
Baylor was able to finally get the ball in the back of the net when senior forward Jackie Crowther crossed the ball to junior forward Camryn Wendlandt, who headed the ball in for her second goal of the season to cut the lead to 3-1.
The offense for the Bears came alive in the second half when they were able to get off 10 shots while holding the Bulls to only four. By the end of the match, the physicality was evident by the Bears’ 18 fouls to the Bulls’ eight.
The Bears will continue their road trip in Florida when they take on the University of Central Florida (UCF) Sunday at 5 p.m.