By Carson Vercoe | Sports Writer
Football and basketball are the first that come to mind when thinking about college sports.
While they remain the biggest and most important for Baylor students, they should try taking a walk to Betty Lou Mays Field, sit down for 90 minutes and watch their No. 8 Baylor soccer team play.
The Bears are currently ranked top ten in the nation and are competing for the top spot in the Big 12. They have consistently shown all season long that they are one of the nation’s best.
They don’t seem to get the recognition they deserve from the student body. While it’s understandable that football and basketball overshadow other sports, there is something special about rooting for less recognized teams.
The lack of support has resulted in students missing a great opportunity to watch one of Baylor’s best athletics programs right now rise into a national powerhouse.
Watching the Bears compete with some of the nation’s best soccer players, seeing the game-winning goal or even a blowout win can be a great experiences that start to go off the beaten path.
They also do not disappoint at home often. Baylor stands at 8-1 at home with its lone defeat coming in late August. Since then, the Bears have won seven straight in front of it supporters.
Baylor soccer also features some of the best soccer talent in the Big 12.
Senior midfielder Aryanna Jimison has been dominant for the Bears and is currently in fifth place for goals. Fifth-year goalkeeper Azul Alvarez has been diving and swatting goals away all season for the Bears, keeping four clean sheets. Sophomore midfielder Olivia Hess has been setting up the Bears all season and is currently in third place for assists in the Big 12.
These players and many more on the team showcase their talents at Betty Lou all season and deserve to be recognized by the students for that.
Baylor soccer has a great opportunity to connect with the student body and form strong fan culture, but it can’t happen if students aren’t willing to show up for it.
If you have free time and support one of the most successful teams on campus this year, take a trip to Betty Lou Mays Field, grab a seat on the bleachers and watch a top 25 team compete in its final home match against Houston at 7 p.m. Nov. 5
Baylor’s takes on No. 11 Texas Tech in its next match at 7 p.m. Friday at the John Walker Soccer Complex in Lubbock.
