Baylor
Oklahoma State
SOC Returns Home to Host No. 4 Oklahoma State
10/1/2020 10:30:00 AM | Soccer
The Bears have won the last three contests against the Cowgirls in Waco
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BAYLOR BEARS (0-1-2) Location: Waco, Texas Conference: Big 12 Head Coach: Paul Jobson (Presbyterian, 1999) Roster | Stats | Game Notes (PDF) |
BAYLOR (0-1-2) vs. OKLAHOMA STATE (3-0) Oct. 3, 2020 • 7 p.m. CT Waco, Texas • Betty Lou Mays Soccer Field Live Stats: baylorstats.com WATCH: Big 12 Now on ESPN+ Baylor Social Media:    |
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OKLAHOMA STATE COWGIRLS (3-0) Location: Stillwater, Okla. Conference: Big 12 Head Coach: Colin Carmichael (South Alabama, 1993) Roster | Stats (PDF) | Game Notes (PDF) |
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By Meredith Pratt
Back in Waco for game four, Baylor soccer (0-1-2) will host defending Big 12 champion Oklahoma State (3-0) at 7 p.m. Friday at Betty Lou Mays Field.
The Bears now lead the nation in double overtime games (3) after losing to Iowa state in the 104th minute last Friday in Ames.
Oklahoma State is currently first in the league with a 3-0 record, coming off a double-overtime win against West Virginia. The Cowgirls are also ranked No. 4 in the country in this week's United Soccer Coaches Poll.
Baylor coach Paul Jobson acknowledged the high skill level he expects to see from OSU on the field Friday night.
"They've got speed, and they'll use it to their advantage," Jobson said. "They'll play pretty direct, try to use their speed and get in behind. Their right backer plays the right side very well, Charme' Morgan. They're very explosive up and down the line. A center forward and a couple center forwards that can make major impacts, too. I think just athleticism and speed and their direct play will be things we really have to watch out for."
Forward Gabriella Coleman leads Oklahoma State with three goals, followed by midfielders Grace Yochum and Olyvia Dowell with two goals apiece. Goalkeeper Emily Plotz has given up two goals and made nine saves with one shutout.
Junior forward Taylor Moon said she is optimistic about the team's performance this week and is ready to bounce back after the loss to Iowa State.
"It was a difficult game, especially being on the road and going into overtime again for the third time," Moon said. "But, I think the practices we've had this week, we've been implementing things we need to work on. I think that this game against OSU, we will be a lot better offensively and our defense is always solid."
Freshman Chloe Japcic is still reeling after netting the first goal of her career, which was also Baylor's first goal of the season. She became the first true freshman to score the team's first goal of the season since Maddie Algya against ACU in 2018.
"It was amazing," said Japic, who made the transition to defensive center back this season. "I remember hitting that ball, and I watched it go all the way in, and once it hit the back of the net I just could not believe it. I was so excited for myself and our team that it allowed us to equalize the game. And from there on, we had a shot, hopefully, to win the game. But, it was definitely an incredible experience."
Another player helping the team's momentum is senior goalkeeper Jennifer Wandt, who is currently tied with Baylor Hall of Famer Dawn Greathouse (1997-00) for most shutouts in program history with 27. She is also third in career saves (213) and goalkeeper minutes (6,106) and second in career wins (39).
Senior defender Sarah Norman will have to sit out Friday's game after receiving two yellow cards in last week's loss at Iowa State, the second coming in the first overtime period and leaving the Bears a player down the rest of the way.
Asked about replacing Norrman, Jobson joked, "We're just going to leave a big hole right there in the middle of the field and ask Jen (Wandt) to step up a little bit."
"No, we feel really good. We're going to slide Kayley Ables in and put Tara (Sumer) in as a left back," Jobson said. "That's our normal move if we have to make a substitution in the back. It's nothing out of the ordinary, it's just a different way to start. But, we'll still be quality in the back, and Ally is still holding things down right in front of them and Jen is holding things down right behind them. So, a lot of veteran people right around there to help seal things up if they get out of hand. But, I don't think they will."
Friday's game will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
STORY LINES
- Baylor returns home after back-to-back road trips to host defending Big 12 champion Oklahoma State on Friday. The Cowgirls are currently atop the league leaderboard with a 3-0 record, coming off a double overtime win against West Virginia with the golden goal coming from Olyvia Dowell with 26 seconds remaining in the match.
- Baylor is coming off another double overtime contest, this one a loss in the 104th minute at Iowa State. The Bears finished that contest with season highs in shots (26) and corner kicks (7).
- Chloe Japic netted Baylor's first goal of the season and the first of her career. She became the first true freshman to score the team's first goal of the season since Maddie Algya against ACU in 2018.
- Ally Henderson recorded an assist against the Cyclones, moving her into a tie for eighth place in program history with 13 career assists.
- Baylor leads the nation in double overtime games this year with three. For the fifth time in program history, BU has a stretch of at least three-straight matches going to overtime. Three other programs have gone into extra time twice (Stephen F. Austin, Duke, Mississippi State) with Texas State the lone other program to go into extra time three times this season with two double overtime contests and one finishing in overtime.
- Kayley Ables has been named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for two straight weeks to start the season. She became the first Bear to rack up back-to-back honors since Ginny Rosario-Tull was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week in 2001. The defender is also the first multi-award winner in a season since Jennifer Wandt in 2018.
- Speaking of Wandt, she is currently tied for first in program history with 27 career shutouts alongside Baylor Hall-of-Famer Dawn Greathouse (1997-00). Wandt is also two shutouts away from tying for fifth in Big 12 history. She is also third in career saves (213), third in career goalkeeper minutes (6106), first in career solo shutouts (27) and second in career wins (39).
- Of the 14 freshmen on the roster, eight of them have already made their debuts for the Bears: Sarah Hornyak, Gabby Mueller, Mackenzie Anthony, Japic, Olivia Mack, Abby Schmidt, Chloe Brown and Julia Phelan.
- Baylor received the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award last week, one of 556 women's college teams to receive the award. The Bears racked up a 3.66 term GPA in 2019-20. BU was one of eight Big 12 teams to earn the honor.
- The Bears return 14 letterwinners from a year ago, including eight starters. Leading the way are Henderson and defender Sarah Norman, who each topped the team a year ago in minutes played, along with Wandt.
- Head coach Paul Jobson returns for his eighth season at the helm (13th season overall) at Baylor. He is the program's all-time wins leader (84) after passing his wife, Marci (78, 2008-14) last year.
- Betty Lou Mays Soccer Field has undergone some recent upgrades. After a new pitch was installed with an updated drainage system in 2019, new LED lights were added in August.
- Oklahoma State has gone undefeated in its last 11 regular season games against league opponents (10-0-1). OSU's last regular season conference loss came at Texas Tech, 0-1, on Sept. 26, 2019.
- The Cowgirls are led in scoring by Gabriella Coleman with three goals, followed by Grace Yochum and Dowell with two goals each. Emily Plotz has spent every minute between the pipes for Oklahoma State and has given up two goals with nine saves with one shutout.
- Baylor had won four-straight contests vs. Oklahoma State from 2014-2016. Since then, the two teams have split, 2-2, with both BU losses coming in Stillwater.
- Oklahoma State is ranked No. 4 in the country in this week's United Soccer Coaches Poll. The Cowgirls are one of four Big 12 teams represented, alongside No. 6 Kansas, No. 7 West Virginia and No. 12 TCU.
