NOTHING GETS BY HER
9/24/2020 4:57:00 PM | General, Soccer
Wandt Ties Program Record with 27 Career Shutouts
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
A field player throughout her career, Jennifer Wandt knew what she was "getting myself into" when she switched to goalkeeper as a freshman at Brookfield East High School in Wisconsin.
"Goalies choose a position where the ball is being shot at us, where people are running at us," Wandt said. "So, it kind of comes with the position, being able to put your body in positions that aren't necessarily comfortable."
In her fourth year as Baylor's starting goalkeeper, Wandt is a perfect fit for the position. With her second consecutive double-overtime shutout in Friday's scoreless draw against Texas Tech, Wandt tied Baylor Hall of Famer Dawn Greathouse for the program record with her 27th career solo shutout.
"She's always been a confident goalkeeper, so that's never been a problem," said Baylor head coach Paul Jobson. "Just seeing her mature as a leader back there, and being able to lead with her voice, has probably been the biggest growth we've seen out of her throughout her last few years here."
Freshman Sarah Hornyak, who switched from midfielder to defender, said she constantly hears Wandt shouting out instructions during the game: "Hey, Sarah, scoot over a little bit . . . check your shoulder."
"Sometimes, I catch myself being too confident in her, that I have to be pessimistic and try to run back and get my man, just in case," Hornyak said. "Jen never messes up, but she's human. So, if she does, then I have to try to be back there at all times for her. it's just awesome having her as my goalie back there."
The feeling is definitely mutual.
While Wandt says she sees the field "pretty well" and has a high soccer IQ, there are times where her back line of four defenders has to save her. Junior Kayley Ables, who has won back-to-back Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors, is joined by senior Sarah Norman, Hornyak and freshman Chloe Japic.
Going all the way back to her freshman season in 2017, Wandt has had a solid back line with defenders like Precious Akanyirige, Delanie Davis, Sarah King, Ariel Leach and Kylie Ross.
"It really just comes down to communication and trust – them trusting me and me trusting them," Wandt said. "Some of the best games are when I can solve problems before the ball even gets to me. That's probably the biggest thing the past couple years is just working on that trust and communication with whoever's been in front of me."
Stepping in when starting goalkeeper Hannah Parrish suffered an injury in the third game of the 2017 season, Wandt made her collegiate debut on Sept. 1 and recorded her first shutout in a 1-0 win over UTSA in a game when the Bears outshot the Roadrunners, 23-1.
"I came in that spring, so I had some game experience," said Wandt, who earned a spot on the Big 12 All-Freshman Team. "I was just so excited to go to college and get my shot. I was just really excited for it. I had a very senior back line in front of me, so they helped me through it."
That turned out to be a special year, with Baylor winning its second Big 12 tournament title with a 2-1 overtime win over TCU and advancing to its first NCAA Tournament Elite Eight before a 4-0 loss at Duke. In a second-round matchup against defending national champion USC, Wandt came up with two huge stops as the Bears outscored the Trojans, 3-0, in a penalty-kick shootout.
"I can't lie, that game is still one of my favorites," said Wandt, who was credited for seven saves in regulation and the two overtime periods of a 1-1 game. "After the game, my mind was kind of like everywhere, but it was awesome to get that kind of experience at such a young age. It was definitely one of my favorite moments here at Baylor."
The next year, Wandt set the single-season school record with 12 shutouts, helping Baylor win the regular season Big 12 title and get back to the Elite Eight. She had a career-high nine saves in the Bears' first-ever win at West Virginia that year and gave up just two goals in a playoff run before a 3-0 loss at Georgetown.
That year, Wandt also assisted on a header goal by Julie James off a free kick in a 6-0 win over Nebraska. It was just the fifth assist by a Baylor goalkeeper and the first since Michelle Kloss versus Prairie View in 2010.
"I love it, I want to be as involved as I can," said Wandt, who takes most of the free kicks, particularly from Baylor's defensive end of the field. "I also like to play high off my line, because it can prevent through balls from coming. So then, instead of having a breakaway, I can just step up and clear it. From playing on the field, I have always enjoyed that and have the foot skills to do that. It's kind of an extra touch, and I can help my team on the offensive side, too."
Wandt said the consistency of having Matt Smith as the goalkeeper coach for the last four years has helped in her development.
"Each year, we can work on a couple things to get better, because I know he's always going to be there," she said. "It's just been really nice having that kind of consistency throughout those 3 ½ years and not having goalie changes."
After the NCAA Division I Board of Directors approved a plan to give all fall sport student-athletes an additional year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Wandt said the decision to come back for the 2021 season "was a really easy one for me." She is scheduled to graduate in May with a degree in political science and plans to start working on a master's degree.
"I love this team, I love this program, and I think this is where I can become the best player I can be," she said. "Short term, I want to play pro soccer after college. And then after that, if anything comes with that, whether it's coaching or something, I would be open to that or the possibility of maybe going back and going to law school."
Baylor (0-0-2) goes back on the road to face Iowa State (0-2-0) at 6 p.m. Friday at Cyclone Sports Complex in Ames, Iowa. The Bears lead the all-time series, 18-7-2, and have won five of the last six games on the road.
"I think we are about to crack the surface when it comes to goals," Wandt said, "and I think there's going to be no stopping us when we do."
Baylor Bear Insider
A field player throughout her career, Jennifer Wandt knew what she was "getting myself into" when she switched to goalkeeper as a freshman at Brookfield East High School in Wisconsin.
"Goalies choose a position where the ball is being shot at us, where people are running at us," Wandt said. "So, it kind of comes with the position, being able to put your body in positions that aren't necessarily comfortable."
In her fourth year as Baylor's starting goalkeeper, Wandt is a perfect fit for the position. With her second consecutive double-overtime shutout in Friday's scoreless draw against Texas Tech, Wandt tied Baylor Hall of Famer Dawn Greathouse for the program record with her 27th career solo shutout.
"She's always been a confident goalkeeper, so that's never been a problem," said Baylor head coach Paul Jobson. "Just seeing her mature as a leader back there, and being able to lead with her voice, has probably been the biggest growth we've seen out of her throughout her last few years here."
Freshman Sarah Hornyak, who switched from midfielder to defender, said she constantly hears Wandt shouting out instructions during the game: "Hey, Sarah, scoot over a little bit . . . check your shoulder."
"Sometimes, I catch myself being too confident in her, that I have to be pessimistic and try to run back and get my man, just in case," Hornyak said. "Jen never messes up, but she's human. So, if she does, then I have to try to be back there at all times for her. it's just awesome having her as my goalie back there."
The feeling is definitely mutual.
While Wandt says she sees the field "pretty well" and has a high soccer IQ, there are times where her back line of four defenders has to save her. Junior Kayley Ables, who has won back-to-back Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors, is joined by senior Sarah Norman, Hornyak and freshman Chloe Japic.
Going all the way back to her freshman season in 2017, Wandt has had a solid back line with defenders like Precious Akanyirige, Delanie Davis, Sarah King, Ariel Leach and Kylie Ross.
"It really just comes down to communication and trust – them trusting me and me trusting them," Wandt said. "Some of the best games are when I can solve problems before the ball even gets to me. That's probably the biggest thing the past couple years is just working on that trust and communication with whoever's been in front of me."
Stepping in when starting goalkeeper Hannah Parrish suffered an injury in the third game of the 2017 season, Wandt made her collegiate debut on Sept. 1 and recorded her first shutout in a 1-0 win over UTSA in a game when the Bears outshot the Roadrunners, 23-1.
"I came in that spring, so I had some game experience," said Wandt, who earned a spot on the Big 12 All-Freshman Team. "I was just so excited to go to college and get my shot. I was just really excited for it. I had a very senior back line in front of me, so they helped me through it."
That turned out to be a special year, with Baylor winning its second Big 12 tournament title with a 2-1 overtime win over TCU and advancing to its first NCAA Tournament Elite Eight before a 4-0 loss at Duke. In a second-round matchup against defending national champion USC, Wandt came up with two huge stops as the Bears outscored the Trojans, 3-0, in a penalty-kick shootout.
"I can't lie, that game is still one of my favorites," said Wandt, who was credited for seven saves in regulation and the two overtime periods of a 1-1 game. "After the game, my mind was kind of like everywhere, but it was awesome to get that kind of experience at such a young age. It was definitely one of my favorite moments here at Baylor."
The next year, Wandt set the single-season school record with 12 shutouts, helping Baylor win the regular season Big 12 title and get back to the Elite Eight. She had a career-high nine saves in the Bears' first-ever win at West Virginia that year and gave up just two goals in a playoff run before a 3-0 loss at Georgetown.
That year, Wandt also assisted on a header goal by Julie James off a free kick in a 6-0 win over Nebraska. It was just the fifth assist by a Baylor goalkeeper and the first since Michelle Kloss versus Prairie View in 2010.
"I love it, I want to be as involved as I can," said Wandt, who takes most of the free kicks, particularly from Baylor's defensive end of the field. "I also like to play high off my line, because it can prevent through balls from coming. So then, instead of having a breakaway, I can just step up and clear it. From playing on the field, I have always enjoyed that and have the foot skills to do that. It's kind of an extra touch, and I can help my team on the offensive side, too."
Wandt said the consistency of having Matt Smith as the goalkeeper coach for the last four years has helped in her development.
"Each year, we can work on a couple things to get better, because I know he's always going to be there," she said. "It's just been really nice having that kind of consistency throughout those 3 ½ years and not having goalie changes."
After the NCAA Division I Board of Directors approved a plan to give all fall sport student-athletes an additional year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Wandt said the decision to come back for the 2021 season "was a really easy one for me." She is scheduled to graduate in May with a degree in political science and plans to start working on a master's degree.
"I love this team, I love this program, and I think this is where I can become the best player I can be," she said. "Short term, I want to play pro soccer after college. And then after that, if anything comes with that, whether it's coaching or something, I would be open to that or the possibility of maybe going back and going to law school."
Baylor (0-0-2) goes back on the road to face Iowa State (0-2-0) at 6 p.m. Friday at Cyclone Sports Complex in Ames, Iowa. The Bears lead the all-time series, 18-7-2, and have won five of the last six games on the road.
"I think we are about to crack the surface when it comes to goals," Wandt said, "and I think there's going to be no stopping us when we do."
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