Behind a 14-5-4 record, top-15 national ranking and five All-Big 12 honors, Baylor delivered its most complete season under Michelle Lenard, powered by depth, veteran leadership and strong wins. It was a year the Bears didn’t just put up numbers — they rebuilt a standard, found their identity and laid a foundation that will carry the program forward for years to come.

Baylor capitalized on a late first-half penalty and leaned on Alvarez’s 11-save effort to edge No. 15 Wisconsin 1-0 in Thursday’s NCAA second round. The Bears survived a late Badger surge, overcoming a 20-10 shot margin to secure their first Sweet 16 berth since 2018.

The Bears’ rise to No. 20 in the nation starts at the back. With poise, leadership and depth, Baylor’s defense has become the backbone of its breakout season.

Baylor soccer turned defense into attack Thursday and stunned No. 14 Kansas with a 3-0 victory on the road in Lawrence, Kan. The win marked the Jayhawks’ first loss of the season and a major boost for the Bears’ Big 12 campaign.

Led by junior midfielder Skye Leach, with one goal, Baylor soccer ended their season on a high note, with a 1-1 tie against Iowa State securing their spot in the 2024 Sprouts Farmers Market Big 12 Soccer Championship.

After shutting out Houston 4-0 on Sunday, Baylor soccer must carry its momentum all the way to Boulder, Colo., to take on No. 16 Colorado on Thursday at 8 p.m. at Prentup Field.

Baylor soccer came into the season with 14 newcomers vying for significant minutes come Big 12 play. While a youth movement has jump-started the Bears, freshman forward Callie Conrad has embodied the 2023 comeback season.

After an improved start to the season compared to 2022, Baylor soccer looks to elevate its play to the next level through consistency.