SOC Prepares for Regular Season Finale Against Oklahoma State

Thursday, October 27

Waco, TX

7 PM

Baylor

Oklahoma State

SOC Prepares for Regular Season Finale Against Oklahoma State

10/26/2022 2:49:00 PM | Soccer

Watch Live Stats Game Notes

Bears are facing the Cowgirls for the 30th time

BAYLOR vs OKLAHOMA STATE
Thursday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m.
Waco, Texas
Betty Lou Mays Field
Video: Big 12 Now ESPN+

BAYLOR BEARS
2022 Record: 4-10-2
Head Coach: Michelle Lenard (North Texas, 2003)
Career Record: 205-87-27 (15th season)
BU Record: 4-10-2 (1st season)

OKLAHOMA STATE COWGIRLS
2022 Record:  10-3-4
Head Coach: Colin Carmichael (South Alabama, 1993)
Career Record: 238-96-50 (18th season)
OSU Record: 238-96-50 (18th season)

By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
            It doesn't take an analyst or mathematician to figure out Baylor soccer's chances of making the Big 12 Championship that begins Sunday in Round Rock.
            Simple. Win, and the Bears (4-10-2, 2-6) are in. If they lose or tie in Thursday's 7 p.m. regular-season finale against Oklahoma State (10-3-4, 3-2-3) at Betty Lou Mays Field, they need some help.
            "At this point, there's no way and no reason to try to hide it," first-year head coach Michelle Lenard said. "The girls know what it is. We're in a tough conference, so it's not uncommon to be in this situation. We know what's on the line. But every time we come out, we want to put our best foot forward, and we want to put ourselves in a position to have a successful outcome. So, (Thursday) is no different."
            For that reason, Lenard said there's no reason to scoreboard watch, even if the Bears could get some help from last-place Iowa State. If the Cyclones beat or tie Kansas (8-8-2, 1-5-2), Baylor qualifies for the eight-team tournament, regardless.
            "We want to control what we can control, which is not that game," Lenard said. "It's not even the outcome of our game. It's just how we play, how we perform, sticking to our game strategy, playing together as a team for our seniors, trying to put together a good performance for them on Senior Day. The rest of it, whatever happens, happens. But, we want to make sure we go out feeling positive about the way we perform."
            Six seniors will be honored after the game, including starters Kayley Ables and Elizabeth Kooiman and top sub Maddie Algya. The other three – Taylor Moon, Marissa Gray and Georgetown transfer goalkeeper Alyssa Navarrete – have not played yet this season.
            "I think it's always for the team and playing for everyone, but I know especially this game it's big playing for the seniors," sophomore defender Ava Colberg said, "because they are almost done playing soccer. And that's really sad. It was hard last year, too, people leaving."
            Lenard said having the Senior Day ceremony following the game will "hopefully take the pressure off of (the seniors) a little bit."
            "I feel like beforehand, it is a distraction for them and kind of puts it on the front of their minds, when really we just want them to be able to enjoy the game and focus on playing the game," she said. "Afterward, whatever happens, happens. We can focus on honoring and recognizing them."
            Since 3-2 wins over Kansas and Iowa State in a three-game stretch, the Bears have dropped three-straight, including back-to-back shutout losses to Texas Tech and TCU.
            Freshman midfielder Skye Leach said there have been moments in practices and games "where we're connecting well, in just little combinations."
            "I think that can help motivate us, because it's not always going to be uphill," Leach said. "We need some challenges to see that we're moving forward."
            Baylor faces an Oklahoma State team that is tied for the league lead in defense, allowing just 11 goals for the year. Coming off a 2-1 loss at home to Texas, the Cowgirls are led by seniors Grace Yochum and Olyvia Dowell with eight and seven goals, respectively.
            The Bears lead the all-time series, 14-11-4, including a 2-1 win last year in Stillwater.
            "They're very direct, very good at winning balls in the air and second balls," Lenard said of OSU. "They are obviously going to want to keep the tempo and pace of the game very fast. It's going to be very important for us to control the tempo, compete and win those aerial challenges. And most importantly, win the second balls, make sure that nobody's able to pick up a loose ball around the goal."

STORY LINES

Baylor will close out its regular season this Thursday, as they take on Oklahoma State in the regular season finale at home.
The Bears are 14-11-4 all-time against the Cowgirls, defeating them last season in Stillwater, 2-1.
Oklahoma State, who is 3-2-3 in conference play, tied West Virginia, 1-1 and lost to Texas, 2-1 last week.
A win for the Bears would secure them a spot in the 2022 Big 12 Soccer Championship, that will begin on Sunday in Round Rock.
The Bears are 4-10-2 overall, 2-6-0 in conference play so far this season, coming off of two losses last week against Texas Tech and No. 12 TCU.
Last week, Baylor held both Texas tech and No. 12 TCU scoreless through the first half.
On senior night, the Bears will be honoring - Alyssa Navarrete (6th year, 2nd at Baylor), Kayley Ables (5th year), Taylor Moon (5th year), Maddie Algya (5th year), Marissa Gray and Elizabeth Kooiman
Reneta Vargas is second in the conference in goals scored in conference games (5) and first in goals per game in conference play with a 0.83 average. Her five goals on the season leads the Bears.
Five Bears have started in all 16 games this season, Ashley Merrill, Hallie Augustyn, Kayley Ables, Ava Colberg and Blythe Obar.
Splitting time in goal this week were Lauren Traywick and Madison Martin. Traywick got the nod against Texas Tech, while Martin recorded her second start in Big 12 play against No. 12 TCU.
Out of the Bears 22 goals this season, eight different Bears have scored at least one goal. Vargas (5) and Merrill (4) are the only two with multiple goals this season.
BU has had 26 different players see playing time this season, with 13 of them being newcomers to the team.
Ashley Merrill's 10 points, 25 shots and 14 on goal leads the Bears.
Freshman, Hallie Augustyn earned the Bears first Big 12 weekly award, as she was tabbed the conference's Freshman of the Week for her work against Houston and Iowa on Sept. 6. Reneta Vargas also won Freshman of the Week on Oct. 11.
For Gabby Mueller's game winning goal against Florida on Aug. 25, she was named Top Drawer Soccer's National Team of the Week Honorable Mention.
Kayley Ables was the lone Baylor player named to the Preseason All-Big 12 team. A fifth-year senior for the program, she has been a key component to the Baylor backline, aka the "No-Goal Patrol."
Taylor Moon was named a preseason Forward to Watch this season by United Soccer Coaches.
With coach Lenard's new playing philosophy, BU defeated both LSU (3-1) and UTSA (2-1) in preseason exhibition matches with five different Baylor players scoring goals.
The NCAA has done away with overtime during the regular season this year, meaning that every game will end at the end of the 90-minute regulation time.