THE RUNDOWN
HOUSTON, Texas – Baylor soccer took down Houston, 3-2, Monday night at the Carl Lewis International Complex to secure its spot in the 2023 Sprouts Farmers Market Big 12 Soccer Championship.
 
The Bears struck first, when Jenna Patterson connected with Salma Simonin, who found the back of the net in the 10^th minute.  
 
Houston responded quickly, finding the equalizer just 35 seconds later to tie the game at 1-1. 
 
Callie Conrad, Hannah Boughton and Simonin each followed the Houston goal with shots of their own, but it wasn't until the 35^th minute that the Bears would capitalize again. Ashley Merrill put in all the work for her 10^thgoal of the season and found the back of the net off of her right boot. 
 
 Skye Leach put the last shot of the first half on frame, but the Cougars came up with the save as the Bears took their 2-1 lead into the half. 
 
Baylor created chances early in the second half, with their best look coming from Merrill in the 65^th minute when her shot went off the top crossbar. 
 
Houston found the tying goal again in the 68^th minute, to knot the game at 2-2. 
 
Not satisfied with the tie, the Bears got off six more shots before finding the lead again in the 81^st minute, as Merrill found the brace, again unassisted, to score her 11^th goal of the season. 
 
Baylor goalkeeper Ashlee Zirkel only had to make one save in the remaining nine minutes of the match, as the Cougars only put one shot on frame in the second half. 

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Bears outshot the Cougars 19-9
• 19 shots are the third-most in a single match this season
• Ashley Merrill's 11^th goal on the season is now the most from an individual player in a single season since Dana Larsen in 2012
• This is Merrill's second multi-goal game of the season
• Salma SImonin netted her third career goal
• Jenna Patterson recorded her fifth assist of the season, which ties for second-most this season
• The Bears' nine wins on the season are the most since the 2018 campaign

WHAT'S NEXT
Up next, the Bears will head to the 2023 Sprouts Farmers Market Big 12 Soccer Championship in Round Rock and will play on Saturday, Oct. 28, more details on time and opponent will be released later.