By Carson Vercoe | Sports Writer
Fifteen seconds separated No. 12 Baylor soccer from an upset over a top-10 team. They could taste their biggest win of the season and stay undefeated on the road.
Baylor needed one stop on a last-second corner kick to secure its second ranked win of the season.
But on a last-second effort, No. 9 West Virginia forward Saige Wimes connected on the corner and slipped it into the goal, tying it up at one as time ran out.
Baylor (7-1-1, 0-0-1 Big 12) drew No. 9 West Virginia (5-0-2, 0-0-1 Big 12) in the Big 12 season opener.
The Mountaineers came out hot on offense, applying constant pressure in the goal-line area and forcing Baylor’s starting eleven into full defensive mode.
West Virginia put five shots on goal in the first ten minutes. The Mountaineers’ constant pressure did not allow the Bears to get comfortable. Baylor struggled to complete passes to move upfield, let alone put up shots.
The Bears got some pressure of their own after a couple of passes in West Virginia territory which led to two corner kicks. The Bears couldn’t capitalize on the corners, but the offense showed promise.
The Mountaineers’ defense continued to shine against an impressive Baylor offense. The Bears struggled to string together three to five passes before a West Virginia player got on the ball, forcing a turnover.
The Bears went into halftime without registering a shot, their first time this season.
West Virginia came out of half with adjustments to break the Bears’ new defense-heavy formation.
The Mountaineers’ offense kept sending long balls down the wings, generating five early shots but not connecting on any.
Fifth-year goalkeeper Azul Alvarez played a big role for Baylor early in the second half, saving three of West Virginia’s shots to keep things even.
The teams’ attacks showed different styles with both defenses not giving a inch.
The Mountaineers pressured Baylor through their passing, creating pressure with back-and-forth passing and numbers in the box.
The Bears, meanwhile, attacked in short bursts with breakaways, trying to get past the West Virginia back line with their speed.
Both teams still couldn’t get on the board going into the final 15 minutes.
In the 78th minute, the Bears struck gold.
Senior midfielder Aryanna Jimison played a through ball to senior forward Lauren Olmholt. Omholt found herself in a one-on-one with goalie Bailey Herfurth and put a shot around her, putting the Bears up by one for her fourth goal of the season.
Alvarez continued her dominance in net after the goal, picking up clutch saves until Wimes scored. The Big 12 goalkeeper of the week finished the night with another six-save performance in the 1-1 draw.
Despite the tie, the Bears stay undefeated in ranked road matchups after their first conference game.
Baylor will take the country roads back home to Waco when it takes on Oklahoma State at 7 p.m. Thursday at Betty Lou Mays Field.
