Feb. 25, 2002
WACO, Texas - The Baylor soccer team won its first two spring scrimmages over the weekend, beating a team of Japanese College All-Stars 4-0 in Waco Friday and defeating Arkansas 2-1 in Houston on Saturday.
Baylor 4, Japanese College All-Stars 0
(Scorers: Rosario-Tull (2), Robertson, Lee)
The Baylor soccer team opened up its spring season with a 4-0 victory against their guests from Japan. April Robertson started the scoring in the fifth minute with an opportunistic goal from 10 yards after a cross from Ginny Rosario-Tull had eluded the Japanese goalkeeper. In the 13th minute, Rosario-Tull made it 2-0 with a full-blooded volley from outside the penalty area, after receiving a pass from Kristin Ruef. Ryan Lee closed out the first-half scoring with an unassisted goal after 30 minutes. Lee picked up a loose ball 25 yards out from goal and fired home a left-foot shot into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal.
Baylor continued their domination in the second half and added to the scoring in the 62nd minute of play. Ryan Lee beat one of the Japanese defenders to the endline and sent over a cross which Rosario-Tull placed into the net.
Baylor had several more opportunities to add to their tally in the second half, but an inspired performance by the Japanese goalkeeper kept the score to reasonable proportions.
Baylor 2, Arkansas 1
(Scorers: Barrett, Rosario-Tull)
After a long bus ride to Abshier Stadium in Deer Park, Houston, the Lady Bears took on the Arkansas Lady Razorbacks.
After a close first half, with both teams having few goal-scoring opportunities, the Baylor squad opened the scoring early in the second half. April Robertson received a throw-in from Casey Cleveland, turned in the box, and provided Whitney Barrett with the perfect opportunity to score from six yards.
The rest of the second half was even, with both teams having chances to score. In the 85th minute, a breakdown in the Baylor defense provided Arkansas with the opportunity for a goal. Razorback forward Julie Williford made no mistake with a shot from 8 yards out. Almost immediately, however, Baylor struck on the counter-attack. Ryan Lee found Kristin Ruef deep in her own half, Ruef turned and attacked the Arkansas defense. Ginny Rosario-Tull made a diagonal run through the defense and Ruef found her with a perfectly weighted pass. Rosario-Tull took the pass and slotted the ball past the helpless Arkansas keeper to give the Bears a deserved 2-1 victory.
"It was important for our young team to win on the road," Baylor head coach Nick Cowell said after the game. "Last fall, we had difficulties winning away from the friendly confines of Betty Lou Mays Stadium, and to beat an excellent team from the SEC says a lot about the character and desire of our team. We currently have a highly motivated squad of soccer players and we are looking forward to building on the successes of the last two days."
