WACO, Texas - With a goal from senior
Lisa Sliwinski in the 89th-minute, the 20th-ranked Baylor soccer team downed Iowa State, 1-0, on Sunday at Betty Lou Mays Soccer Field.
"That game was a battle," head coach Marci Jobson said. "It was a very frustrating game from the sideline, because we had all of those chances. With all that said, we still found a way to win."
Despite outshooting ISU 22-10, the Bears were on the verge of playing their fifth straight overtime game. However, Sliwinski's score broke a 0-0 draw and propelled Baylor to its 10th consecutive win at home.
To record the game-winner, Sliwinski shed two Cyclone defenders and tracked down a ball that had been cleared forward by Selby Polley. Once she gained possession near the top of the 18-yard box, Sliwinski dribbled in and slotted a shot past Iowa State goalkeeper Maddie Jobe to give BU the lead with 1:20 remaining on the clock.
"Lisa is so dangerous on any opportunities she gets," Jobson said. "She was able to bury it and give us an awesome goal."
Baylor held the Cyclones scoreless for the remainder of the contest to pick up its 11th shutout of the season. That mark ties the program record for most shutouts in a single season.
BU improves to 13-1-4 on the year and 4-0-3 in Big 12 play, while Iowa State falls to 10-9-0 overall and 1-6-0 in league action.
In the first half, Baylor had several chances to score starting in the 17th-minute as Sliwinski sent in a cross that Dana Larsen headed towards the upper right-hand corner of the goal. Jobe was up for the challenge as she left her feet to snare the ball. Less than a minute later, Bri Campos blasted a shot on goal from the top of the 18-yard box that Jobe also swallowed up. In the 36th-minute Alex Klein had a header opportunity on a cross from Alexa Wilde that Jobe turned away.
Baylor continued to have opportunities in the second half . In the 76th-minute, Sliwinski snapped a period of over 25 minutes where neither team had a shot. She made a run down the left side and worked for an attempt around a defender, but was unable to get much on her shot that Jobe scooped up. Larissa Campos took a free kick in the 87th-minute from 24-yards out that Jobe was able to get a hand on and deflect over the crossbar.
"We are a team that wears other teams down," Jobson said. "We use numbers, including 17 or 18 girls today. I think we just wore them down throughout the game. It wasn't pretty, but it was very workman-like and our girls found a way to win."
Iowa State's best chance to score came just after halftime as the Big 12's leading scorer, Jennifer Dominguez, had a shot on goal that was saved by goalkeeper Michelle Kloss.
Baylor's last six goals have all come in the 80th minute or later.
The Bears had three players, Bri Campos, Larissa Campos and Jordan Halter, with four shots, while Larsen and Sliwinski each had three.
Michelle Kloss made four saves, while playing the full 90 minutes in goal for Baylor. She is now 12-1-4 on the year.
After getting their first win over ISU at home since 2006, the Bears are now 11-5-2 all-time vs. the Cyclones. Overall, BU is unbeaten in its last 14 games and 8-0 at home this season.
Baylor hosts Big 12 newcomer TCU (6-8-3, 1-4-2) for the final game of its regular season on Friday at 7 p.m.
