Photo by: Baylor Photography
No. 11 SOC Travels to No. 2 Georgetown for NCAA Elite 8
11/22/2018 9:11:00 AM | Soccer
Bears look for program’s first-ever trip to Women’s College Cup
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
Making the Elite Eight is the new normal for a Baylor soccer program that had never been there before last year's 4-0 loss to Duke, a win away from the Women's College Cup.
"Last year, we were just kind of throwing our hats at things, trying to figure out what we needed to do," said coach Paul Jobson, whose 11th-ranked and second-seeded Bears (20-5-0) face top-seeded and second-ranked Georgetown (20-0-3) at 11 a.m. CDT Saturday at Shaw Field in Washington D.C.
"This time, we've been through it, and it gives us a little more comfort knowing what we're going into, and the girls as well. They've been here, done that, and there's a little bit of a confidence running into that."
Baylor is also one of just four teams to make back-to-back Elite Eight appearances the last two years, joining Penn State, UCLA and defending national champion Stanford. On Friday, Stanford and Florida State punched their tickets to next weekend's Women's College Cup in Carey, N.C., with wins over Tennessee and Penn State, respectively.
"You can look at those names and be in awe of them – the Carolinas and Stanford and Florida State and Penn State and all those teams," Jobson said. "But understand that we belong here. There's a reason we're here and there's a reason we've been here two years in a row. When we first got here, we said we wanted to build a dynasty here and build our own legacy. And I think we're getting to that point where we're starting to do that. Hopefully, people start expecting to see the Baylor name in the final eight."
The Bears got here with a strong senior class anchored by three-time All-Big 12 midfielder Julie James, who has tallied 10 goals on the season to match junior forward Camryn Wendlandt.
Also part of that senior class are forwards Jackie Crowther and Kennedy Brown, first-team All-Big 12 defender Sarah King and defender Ariel Leach, who has missed all three NCAA tournament games with a knee injury.
Recruited off a Big 12 Championship title and the program's first Sweet 16 in 2012, this year's seniors "set a tone for this group now, set a legacy in place," Jobson said.
"A lot of these kids started as freshmen, so the amount of experience they have as seniors is unparalleled, really," Jobson said. "They've created a legacy coming in as freshmen in setting some really good standards that we're going to continue to implement once they're gone. And hopefully that's not for a couple more weeks."
Although she's tried not to think about it, "as time's gone one, I've started just dreading the moment when it comes to an end," James said.
"At the same time, once I step on the field, I can't let that in my mind, because we just have to play and enjoy it. Only the Lord knows the end of our season, so I just have to trust with that and keep chugging along and enjoy the time I have with these girls and just another opportunity to play."
Baylor gets an undefeated Georgetown team that is making its seventh consecutive NCAA tournament appearance and trying to get back to the Women's College Cup for the second time in three years. The Hoyas lost to eventual national champion USC, 1-0, in the 2016 semifinals.
This year's Georgetown team has been arguably the most dominant in the game, outscoring its opponents, 50-9. The Hoyas have won 20 of their last 21 games after opening the season 1-0-2 and got back to the Elite Eight with a 4-1 win over Duke.
"At this point, obviously, everybody is good," Jobson said. "They're a good team and they're well-coached. Dave (Nolan) has been there, I think, 15 years, and had a lot of success there. They're playing on their home field, which is a big advantage, as we know very well. They've got a kid that's scored 18 goals (Caitlin Ferrell). That's an incredible amount of goals. They're great on the counter, physical, tough, just a quality overall team."
Of all the lessons Baylor learned in its first Elite Eight trip, the most important might be to keep all 11 players on the field. In that loss to Duke, the Bears were a player down for the last 50 minutes after Lauren Piercy picked up her second yellow card less than 40 minutes into the game.
"We'd like to keep as many on the field for as many minutes as possible this year," Jobson said. "I think what we learned is that we just gained some experience of being in a different venue, being at a different conference. We hadn't really played any ACC schools prior to last year going into Duke. I think it really helped us this year playing a more challenging schedule as well."
The Baylor-Georgetown winner advances to the Women's College Cup semifinals to face the winner of the North Carolina-UCLA game that starts at 3 p.m. CDT Saturday in Chapel Hill, N.C.
"We say before the season, if you come here and you don't want to win Big 12 championships and you don't want to compete for national championships, you're not in the right place," Jobson said. "Because that's absolutely what we want to do here. But after we say that, we don't talk about it anymore. . . . Georgetown is our championship match. We've got to get through them to be able to do anything else. We're only guaranteed one more."
WACO, Texas – No. 11 Baylor soccer (20-5-0) makes its first-ever return trip into the Elite 8, facing No. 2 Georgetown (20-0-3) in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Soccer Championship on Saturday, Nov. 24, at 11 a.m. CT/12 p.m. ET at Shaw Field in Washington, D.C.
Facing the No. 1 national seeded Hoyas, Baylor is a No. 2 national seed, the highest-ever bid earned by a BU squad after winning the 2018 Big 12 regular season title and maintaining an undefeated record at home.
BU cruised through the second and third rounds, hosted in Waco at Betty Lou Mays Soccer Field. The Bears took down No. 13 Vanderbilt and No. 12 Virginia.
The Hoyas are undefeated on the season, winning both the regular season and tournament Big East titles.
The Legacy Fund membership is an exclusive support club that enhances the Baylor Soccer program. Becoming a Legacy member allows you to get an insider look at Baylor soccer and to support the team in every aspect of the program's success. For more information on the Legacy Fund, visit baylorbears.com/bearfoundation or call 254-710-3197.
Keep up with the team all season long by following Baylor Soccer on the team's official Twitter (@BaylorFutbol), Facebook (Baylor Soccer), and Instagram (@BaylorFutbol).
MATCH INFO
Sat., Nov. 24 at Georgetown
11:00 a.m. CT / 12:00 p.m. ET
Shaw Field
Washington, D.C.
Stats: NCAA.com
Video: GUHoyas.com
Tickets: WeAreGeorgetown.com/tickets
BAYLOR BEARS
2018 Record: 20-5-0
2018 Big 12 Record: 8-1-0
Head Coach: Paul Jobson
Career: 76-38-14 (6th season)
BU: 76-38-14 (6th season)
GEORGETOWN HOYAS
2018 Record: 20-0-3
2018 Big East Record: 8-0-1
Head Coach: Dave Nolan
Career: 203-80-38 (15th season)
GU: 203-80-38 (15th season)
BAYLOR QUICK NOTES
* Baylor earned a No. 2 national seed, the highest-ever bid in the NCAA postseason for the Bears. BU is on its sixth run in the NCAA postseason and carries an 8-4-2 all-time record in tournament play, including a 5-1-1 mark under head coach Paul Jobson.
* BU hosted the third round in Waco for the first time in program history in a 2-1 win over No. 12 Virginia, securing back-to-back trips into the Elite 8 for the first time. Baylor's repeat Elite 8 trip marks the third time ever and the first time since 2010-2011 (Oklahoma State) that a Big 12 team has advanced into the national quarterfinals in consecutive seasons (Texas A&M, 2001-2002).
* A win over the Hoyas would be the program's second-ever win over a top-5 opponent, the first since an unraked Baylor squad beat No. 3 Texas A&M on Oct. 12, 1997, in Waco, 2-1 (OT).
* Baylor has gone to PK's in five matches in program history, including both Big 12 Championship and NCAA tournament play. BU has advanced three times, twice in the Big 12 tournament (2011, 2015) and most recently in the second round of the 2017 NCAA tournament vs. USC. The Bears fell short once each in NCAA (2012) and Big 12 (2014) tourney play.
* Baylor and Georgetown have met only once before, with the Bears taking a 2-1 (OT) win over the Hoyas in 2012 in the NCAA Championship Second Round in Chapel Hill, N.C., securing the program's first-ever trip into the Sweet 16.
* Baylor clinched its second-ever regular season Big 12 title with a 1-0 win over Oklahoma in the final match of the Big 12 slate, helped by an overtime loss by WVU versus Kansas. The regular season title was BU's first since 1998 and fourth overall conference title.
* Sixth-year head coach Paul Jobson was named the 2018 Big 12 Soccer Coach of the Year, the second time in program history a BU coach has garnered the accolade (Randy Waldrum, 1998).
* Baylor's win over Vandy was the 75th career win for Jobson, now within two wins of tying the program-record holder – his wife, Marci (78, 2008-2014).
* Julie James, Sarah King, Jennifer Wandt, and Camryn Wendlandt earned All-Big 12 selections, tying the program record for selections. Kayley Ables and Taylor Moon were also named to the Big 12 All-Freshman team. Baylor has now had at least one All-Big 12 selection for seven-straight seasons and at least one Big 12 All-Freshman selection for five-straight.
* Baylor has had at least eight wins in, now, 10-straight seasons and has won or advanced by shootout in at least one match at the Big 12 Championship 11 times in 16 appearances, including now seven in a row.
* Baylor has now had 10 or more wins in 12 of its 23 seasons as a program, seven of the last nine, and three-straight under sixth-year head coach Paul Jobson. Baylor's 20 wins in 2018 set a new program record, originally set by the 2012 squad (19-1-5).
* Baylor has posted back-to-back 15 win seasons for just the second time in program history (2011-2012).
* Baylor outscored its opponents 32-4 at home this season, posting a perfect 13-0 record at Betty Lou Mays Soccer Field.
* Baylor's undefeated regular season home effort was the first time the Bears ran the table at home since 2012, with the 13 home wins standing as the most in a single-season in program history.
* Julie James connected on her 10th goal of the season, giving BU two double-digit goal scorers (Camryn Wendlandt, 10) for the first time since 2012 (Dana Larsen, 11 & Lisa Sliwinski, 10). The score was also the 20th of her collegiate career, becoming the ninth student-athlete in program history to score 20-plus career goals.
* Jennifer Wandt's sophomore season has included 12 solo shutouts, good for second in the Big 12 and fourth in the nation. She now sits at No. 2 on Baylor's career shutouts list (21) and has already set the program record for most in a single-season.
* Paul Jobson became Baylor soccer's all-time conference wins leader, picking up his 24th win in Big 12 play with a 3-1 win over Kansas, passing his wife and former Baylor head coach Marci Jobson (23-28-11) for the most conference wins in program history.
* Camryn Wendlandt scored her 10th goal of the season, the eighth time a BU student-athlete has reached double-digit goals and the first since 2012.
* Ally Henderson has assisted on four of Baylor's seven goals through the first three rounds of the NCAA tournament.
* Baylor has scored 49 goals on the season, the most since the 2012 squad netted 58 scores.
* Baylor's 49 goals on the year are the most in the Big 12 and ranks 14th in the country.
* Baylor will finish the season as the furthest advancing program in the State of Texas and the Big 12 Conference for the second-straight season.
* The match vs. Georgetown will be the 26th match of the 2018 season, which will surpass the 2012 squad for the most in a single-season.
* Baylor totaled six Big 12 Player of the Week honors in 2018, tallying one Offensive POTW, two Defensive POTW, and three Freshman OTW.
* Senior midfielder Julie James was named one of 30 candidates for the Senior CLASS Award, recognizing excellence in community, classroom, character and competition. James is the first candidate for the award in program history.
* Camryn Wendlandt was named to the Google Cloud Academic All-District Women's Soccer NCAA Division I District 5 first team, giving BU a selection in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2012-13 after Precious Akanyirige's selection in 2017.
* Jennifer Wandt's assist in a 6-0 win vs. Nebraska marked the fifth time and just the third different BU goalkeeper to assist on a score in program history, the first since Michelle Kloss (vs. Prairie View A&M, 9/19/10).
* Jackie Crowther and Giuliana Cunningham scored goals within just 20 seconds of each other in the win over Nebraska, the quickest consecutive goals in program history.
* Raegan Padgett notched the fastest goal to start a match in program history, scoring the first goal vs. Samford (Aug. 19) just 35 seconds into the match.
* Baylor saw its program-record 10-match winning streak and program-record-tying 21-match streak with at least one goal snapped in a 3-0 loss to West Virginia in the Big 12 Soccer Championship final.
* Baylor had 16 Academic All-Big 12 selections, leading the conference and remaining the league's all-time leader in academic honorees.
* From May 9-12, a group of current and former Baylor soccer student-athletes returned for the second-straight year to serve on a mission trip to Guatemala alongside Baylor FCA.
Baylor Bear Insider
Making the Elite Eight is the new normal for a Baylor soccer program that had never been there before last year's 4-0 loss to Duke, a win away from the Women's College Cup.
"Last year, we were just kind of throwing our hats at things, trying to figure out what we needed to do," said coach Paul Jobson, whose 11th-ranked and second-seeded Bears (20-5-0) face top-seeded and second-ranked Georgetown (20-0-3) at 11 a.m. CDT Saturday at Shaw Field in Washington D.C.
"This time, we've been through it, and it gives us a little more comfort knowing what we're going into, and the girls as well. They've been here, done that, and there's a little bit of a confidence running into that."
Baylor is also one of just four teams to make back-to-back Elite Eight appearances the last two years, joining Penn State, UCLA and defending national champion Stanford. On Friday, Stanford and Florida State punched their tickets to next weekend's Women's College Cup in Carey, N.C., with wins over Tennessee and Penn State, respectively.
"You can look at those names and be in awe of them – the Carolinas and Stanford and Florida State and Penn State and all those teams," Jobson said. "But understand that we belong here. There's a reason we're here and there's a reason we've been here two years in a row. When we first got here, we said we wanted to build a dynasty here and build our own legacy. And I think we're getting to that point where we're starting to do that. Hopefully, people start expecting to see the Baylor name in the final eight."
The Bears got here with a strong senior class anchored by three-time All-Big 12 midfielder Julie James, who has tallied 10 goals on the season to match junior forward Camryn Wendlandt.
Also part of that senior class are forwards Jackie Crowther and Kennedy Brown, first-team All-Big 12 defender Sarah King and defender Ariel Leach, who has missed all three NCAA tournament games with a knee injury.
Recruited off a Big 12 Championship title and the program's first Sweet 16 in 2012, this year's seniors "set a tone for this group now, set a legacy in place," Jobson said.
"A lot of these kids started as freshmen, so the amount of experience they have as seniors is unparalleled, really," Jobson said. "They've created a legacy coming in as freshmen in setting some really good standards that we're going to continue to implement once they're gone. And hopefully that's not for a couple more weeks."
Although she's tried not to think about it, "as time's gone one, I've started just dreading the moment when it comes to an end," James said.
"At the same time, once I step on the field, I can't let that in my mind, because we just have to play and enjoy it. Only the Lord knows the end of our season, so I just have to trust with that and keep chugging along and enjoy the time I have with these girls and just another opportunity to play."
Baylor gets an undefeated Georgetown team that is making its seventh consecutive NCAA tournament appearance and trying to get back to the Women's College Cup for the second time in three years. The Hoyas lost to eventual national champion USC, 1-0, in the 2016 semifinals.
This year's Georgetown team has been arguably the most dominant in the game, outscoring its opponents, 50-9. The Hoyas have won 20 of their last 21 games after opening the season 1-0-2 and got back to the Elite Eight with a 4-1 win over Duke.
"At this point, obviously, everybody is good," Jobson said. "They're a good team and they're well-coached. Dave (Nolan) has been there, I think, 15 years, and had a lot of success there. They're playing on their home field, which is a big advantage, as we know very well. They've got a kid that's scored 18 goals (Caitlin Ferrell). That's an incredible amount of goals. They're great on the counter, physical, tough, just a quality overall team."
Of all the lessons Baylor learned in its first Elite Eight trip, the most important might be to keep all 11 players on the field. In that loss to Duke, the Bears were a player down for the last 50 minutes after Lauren Piercy picked up her second yellow card less than 40 minutes into the game.
"We'd like to keep as many on the field for as many minutes as possible this year," Jobson said. "I think what we learned is that we just gained some experience of being in a different venue, being at a different conference. We hadn't really played any ACC schools prior to last year going into Duke. I think it really helped us this year playing a more challenging schedule as well."
The Baylor-Georgetown winner advances to the Women's College Cup semifinals to face the winner of the North Carolina-UCLA game that starts at 3 p.m. CDT Saturday in Chapel Hill, N.C.
"We say before the season, if you come here and you don't want to win Big 12 championships and you don't want to compete for national championships, you're not in the right place," Jobson said. "Because that's absolutely what we want to do here. But after we say that, we don't talk about it anymore. . . . Georgetown is our championship match. We've got to get through them to be able to do anything else. We're only guaranteed one more."
WACO, Texas – No. 11 Baylor soccer (20-5-0) makes its first-ever return trip into the Elite 8, facing No. 2 Georgetown (20-0-3) in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Soccer Championship on Saturday, Nov. 24, at 11 a.m. CT/12 p.m. ET at Shaw Field in Washington, D.C.
Facing the No. 1 national seeded Hoyas, Baylor is a No. 2 national seed, the highest-ever bid earned by a BU squad after winning the 2018 Big 12 regular season title and maintaining an undefeated record at home.
BU cruised through the second and third rounds, hosted in Waco at Betty Lou Mays Soccer Field. The Bears took down No. 13 Vanderbilt and No. 12 Virginia.
The Hoyas are undefeated on the season, winning both the regular season and tournament Big East titles.
The Legacy Fund membership is an exclusive support club that enhances the Baylor Soccer program. Becoming a Legacy member allows you to get an insider look at Baylor soccer and to support the team in every aspect of the program's success. For more information on the Legacy Fund, visit baylorbears.com/bearfoundation or call 254-710-3197.
Keep up with the team all season long by following Baylor Soccer on the team's official Twitter (@BaylorFutbol), Facebook (Baylor Soccer), and Instagram (@BaylorFutbol).
MATCH INFO
Sat., Nov. 24 at Georgetown
11:00 a.m. CT / 12:00 p.m. ET
Shaw Field
Washington, D.C.
Stats: NCAA.com
Video: GUHoyas.com
Tickets: WeAreGeorgetown.com/tickets
BAYLOR BEARS
2018 Record: 20-5-0
2018 Big 12 Record: 8-1-0
Head Coach: Paul Jobson
Career: 76-38-14 (6th season)
BU: 76-38-14 (6th season)
GEORGETOWN HOYAS
2018 Record: 20-0-3
2018 Big East Record: 8-0-1
Head Coach: Dave Nolan
Career: 203-80-38 (15th season)
GU: 203-80-38 (15th season)
BAYLOR QUICK NOTES
* Baylor earned a No. 2 national seed, the highest-ever bid in the NCAA postseason for the Bears. BU is on its sixth run in the NCAA postseason and carries an 8-4-2 all-time record in tournament play, including a 5-1-1 mark under head coach Paul Jobson.
* BU hosted the third round in Waco for the first time in program history in a 2-1 win over No. 12 Virginia, securing back-to-back trips into the Elite 8 for the first time. Baylor's repeat Elite 8 trip marks the third time ever and the first time since 2010-2011 (Oklahoma State) that a Big 12 team has advanced into the national quarterfinals in consecutive seasons (Texas A&M, 2001-2002).
* A win over the Hoyas would be the program's second-ever win over a top-5 opponent, the first since an unraked Baylor squad beat No. 3 Texas A&M on Oct. 12, 1997, in Waco, 2-1 (OT).
* Baylor has gone to PK's in five matches in program history, including both Big 12 Championship and NCAA tournament play. BU has advanced three times, twice in the Big 12 tournament (2011, 2015) and most recently in the second round of the 2017 NCAA tournament vs. USC. The Bears fell short once each in NCAA (2012) and Big 12 (2014) tourney play.
* Baylor and Georgetown have met only once before, with the Bears taking a 2-1 (OT) win over the Hoyas in 2012 in the NCAA Championship Second Round in Chapel Hill, N.C., securing the program's first-ever trip into the Sweet 16.
* Baylor clinched its second-ever regular season Big 12 title with a 1-0 win over Oklahoma in the final match of the Big 12 slate, helped by an overtime loss by WVU versus Kansas. The regular season title was BU's first since 1998 and fourth overall conference title.
* Sixth-year head coach Paul Jobson was named the 2018 Big 12 Soccer Coach of the Year, the second time in program history a BU coach has garnered the accolade (Randy Waldrum, 1998).
* Baylor's win over Vandy was the 75th career win for Jobson, now within two wins of tying the program-record holder – his wife, Marci (78, 2008-2014).
* Julie James, Sarah King, Jennifer Wandt, and Camryn Wendlandt earned All-Big 12 selections, tying the program record for selections. Kayley Ables and Taylor Moon were also named to the Big 12 All-Freshman team. Baylor has now had at least one All-Big 12 selection for seven-straight seasons and at least one Big 12 All-Freshman selection for five-straight.
* Baylor has had at least eight wins in, now, 10-straight seasons and has won or advanced by shootout in at least one match at the Big 12 Championship 11 times in 16 appearances, including now seven in a row.
* Baylor has now had 10 or more wins in 12 of its 23 seasons as a program, seven of the last nine, and three-straight under sixth-year head coach Paul Jobson. Baylor's 20 wins in 2018 set a new program record, originally set by the 2012 squad (19-1-5).
* Baylor has posted back-to-back 15 win seasons for just the second time in program history (2011-2012).
* Baylor outscored its opponents 32-4 at home this season, posting a perfect 13-0 record at Betty Lou Mays Soccer Field.
* Baylor's undefeated regular season home effort was the first time the Bears ran the table at home since 2012, with the 13 home wins standing as the most in a single-season in program history.
* Julie James connected on her 10th goal of the season, giving BU two double-digit goal scorers (Camryn Wendlandt, 10) for the first time since 2012 (Dana Larsen, 11 & Lisa Sliwinski, 10). The score was also the 20th of her collegiate career, becoming the ninth student-athlete in program history to score 20-plus career goals.
* Jennifer Wandt's sophomore season has included 12 solo shutouts, good for second in the Big 12 and fourth in the nation. She now sits at No. 2 on Baylor's career shutouts list (21) and has already set the program record for most in a single-season.
* Paul Jobson became Baylor soccer's all-time conference wins leader, picking up his 24th win in Big 12 play with a 3-1 win over Kansas, passing his wife and former Baylor head coach Marci Jobson (23-28-11) for the most conference wins in program history.
* Camryn Wendlandt scored her 10th goal of the season, the eighth time a BU student-athlete has reached double-digit goals and the first since 2012.
* Ally Henderson has assisted on four of Baylor's seven goals through the first three rounds of the NCAA tournament.
* Baylor has scored 49 goals on the season, the most since the 2012 squad netted 58 scores.
* Baylor's 49 goals on the year are the most in the Big 12 and ranks 14th in the country.
* Baylor will finish the season as the furthest advancing program in the State of Texas and the Big 12 Conference for the second-straight season.
* The match vs. Georgetown will be the 26th match of the 2018 season, which will surpass the 2012 squad for the most in a single-season.
* Baylor totaled six Big 12 Player of the Week honors in 2018, tallying one Offensive POTW, two Defensive POTW, and three Freshman OTW.
* Senior midfielder Julie James was named one of 30 candidates for the Senior CLASS Award, recognizing excellence in community, classroom, character and competition. James is the first candidate for the award in program history.
* Camryn Wendlandt was named to the Google Cloud Academic All-District Women's Soccer NCAA Division I District 5 first team, giving BU a selection in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2012-13 after Precious Akanyirige's selection in 2017.
* Jennifer Wandt's assist in a 6-0 win vs. Nebraska marked the fifth time and just the third different BU goalkeeper to assist on a score in program history, the first since Michelle Kloss (vs. Prairie View A&M, 9/19/10).
* Jackie Crowther and Giuliana Cunningham scored goals within just 20 seconds of each other in the win over Nebraska, the quickest consecutive goals in program history.
* Raegan Padgett notched the fastest goal to start a match in program history, scoring the first goal vs. Samford (Aug. 19) just 35 seconds into the match.
* Baylor saw its program-record 10-match winning streak and program-record-tying 21-match streak with at least one goal snapped in a 3-0 loss to West Virginia in the Big 12 Soccer Championship final.
* Baylor had 16 Academic All-Big 12 selections, leading the conference and remaining the league's all-time leader in academic honorees.
* From May 9-12, a group of current and former Baylor soccer student-athletes returned for the second-straight year to serve on a mission trip to Guatemala alongside Baylor FCA.
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