SOC Traveling to UNT, Wisconsin

BAYLOR AT NORTH TEXAS
Thursday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m.
Soccer and Track & Fieldd Stadium
Video: YouTubeLive

BAYLOR AT WISCONSIN
Saturday, Sept. 5 at 7 p.m.
McClimson Soccer Complex
Video: Big Ten Network+

BAYLOR BEARS
2021 Record: 2-2
Head Coach: Paul Jobson
Career: 91-54-20 (9^th season)
BU: 91-54-20 (9^th season)

NORTH TEXAS MEAN GREEN
2021 Record: 3-0-1
Head Coach: John Hedlund
Career Record: 365-136-35 (27th season)
UNT Record: 365-136-3 (27th season)

WISCONSIN BADGERS
2021 Record: 3-1
Head Coach: Paula Wilkins
Career Record: 254-95-97 (21st season)
Wisconsin Record: 134-76-35 (15th season)

By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
            As much as any loss stings, Baylor soccer coach Paul Jobson is glad his team is learning its lessons now rather than later.
            Because of a challenging schedule that includes one-goal losses to Big Ten teams Minnesota and Nebraska, the Bears (2-2-0) are "being exposed," said Jobson, whose team goes back on the road to face the University of North Texas (3-0-1) at 7 p.m. Thursday in Denton and Wisconsin (3-1-0) at 7 p.m. Sunday in Madison, Wis.
            "If we were playing really bad teams early on, maybe we don't learn these lessons and maybe we score more and give up less," he said. "But, I'd rather learn these lessons now so that we're prepared as we move through the season."
            Trying to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since back-to-back Elite Eight appearances in 2017 and '18, Jobson said he put together the type of RPI-building schedule "that can get you there." That includes North Texas, a perennial power in Conference USA that earned four NCAA Tournament bids in a five-year stretch (2015-19).
            "Every match that we're playing right now is an RPI-building type of game, and that is definitely what we're trying to do," Jobson said. "You just have to make sure that you are, obviously, winning more than we're losing. Even North Texas, which is maybe not well known from a Power-5 standpoint, they're always a great RPI team. Win or lose, they're going to be great for our RPI."
            Earning a split for the second-straight week, the Bears got a golden goal from freshman Haven Terry in a 2-1 win at home over SMU on Sunday. Three days earlier, they dropped a 2-1 decision to Nebraska.
            "If you can teach your team how to win games, no matter what it looks like, that's just so, so important in our sport," Jobson said. "There were a lot of things going against us in that match, but it showed the resiliency of this group to fight to the very end until we got the result we needed."
            Freshman midfielder Lorelai Stamrood set Terry up with a header off a free kick near midfield from goalkeeper Jennifer Wandt. Along with Ava Colberg, who has started all four games as a back-row defender, the Bears have used five freshmen to date.
            "Kind of like last year, we've just got a crew of young players that step in and are ready to go. Just really impressed with them," Jobson said. "Being a starting defender as a freshman in our group is tough. We had a couple do it last year out of necessity, but Ava Colberg has stepped in there and done really well. And then, Haven Terry is getting some great minutes up front and obviously scored our game-winner just through sheer effort and never giving up."
            Led by 27^th-year head coach John Hedlund (365-136-35), the Mean Green remained undefeated at the Outrigger Soccer Kickoff in Manoa, tying the host Hawaii team, 0-0, in double overtime and beating Idaho State, 4-1.
            Junior midfielder Madi Drenowatz scored two goals in the win over Idaho State, giving her a team-high four goals for the season, while defenders Brooke Lampe and Hadley Williams and senior forward Olivia Klein were named to the all-tournament team. Goalkeeper Sarah Fuller, who has recorded three shutouts, is a transfer from Vanderbilt who made history last year when she became the first female to play and score in a Power-5 college football game.
            "North Texas is always a tough, tough team," Jobson said. "They're an NCAA contender every year, winning their conference, and always do great against Power-5 teams. That's going to be a tough road match, but it's great that it's just right up the road. We're hoping to get some of our Dallas and Fort Worth alumni up there in Denton to cheer on their Bears."
            On Sunday, Baylor plays on the road against a Wisconsin team whose only loss came in overtime against Notre Dame. The Badgers are coming off a dominant 5-0 win over Eastern Illinois on Sunday, when they outshot the Panthers, 39-1, and had 19 on target.
            In the only previous meeting in this series, Wisconsin pulled out a 3-2 win in a neutral-site meeting in Columbia, Mo., when the Badgers scored with one second left in the first overtime period.
            "The road doesn't get any easier," Jobson said. "Wisconsin is another great, great team. But, when you're trying to become a tough, resilient team, these are the types of games we need to play."

STORY LINES

Baylor heads on the road for two nonconference games against North Texas on Thursday and then traveling to Wisconsin on Sunday to close out the weekend.
The 2021 season marks the 25th anniversary of the Baylor Soccer program. To celebrate, BU unveiled an updated crest for the season.
Baylor leaves for their road trip North after hosting two games at home against Nebraska and SMU. The Bears faced off against fellow Big12 foe Nebraska and fell 2-1 with Gabby Mueller scoring the lone goal, her first of the season. The Mueller goal was capitalized off of an assist from Mackenzie Anthony and was the first goal of the season against the Nebraska goalkeeper. Baylor outshot the Cornhuskers 20-13 but weren't able to get the equalizer in the final minutes. The first goal from Nebraska marked the first goal Baylor has allowed in a fall game since 2019. With a makeshift backline after three Baylor injuries, the Bears still held the Huskers to a season-low two goals.
Following their battle with Nebraska, Baylor hosted SMU to close out their home stand and provided a thrilling overtime win. Freshman Haven Terry capitalized in overtime for the Bears delivering a golden goal and lifting Baylor to the 2-1 win over SMU. Baylor jumped out to the early 1-0 lead in the 10th minute off of a corner kick headed in by Mackenzie Anthony, her fourth career goal, with an assist from Ally Henderson-Ashkinos. Henderson-Ashkinos ball helped lifted her to her 14th career assist, moving her to No. 8 in school history. SMU quickly answered and the game stayed knotted at 1-1 until Terry's goal in the 99th minute.
In the Bears win over SMU, every Baylor defender - Sarah Hornyak, Sarah Norman, Kayley Ables, and Ava Colberg - played the full 99 minutes.
Along with Haven Terry, freshman Lorelai Stramrood also had a hand in delivering the Bears win over SMU. Recording her first career assist, she rose above the pack and heading the ball to Terry who sent the ball into the net.
Preseason All-Big 12 team member Jennifer Wandt recorded nine total saves last week bringing her season total to 14.
Seven Bears have played and started in all four games so far this season - Jennifer Wandt, Gabby Mueller, Taylor Moon, Henderson-Ashkinos, Sarah Hornyak, Ava Colberg, and Kayley Ables.
Thursday's matchup against North Texas will mark the 10th time these two teams are facing off against each other. Baylor currently leads the all-time record 5-2-1. The first time the Bears played the Mean Green was back in 1996, with the most current battle ending in a tie after double overtime on Sept. 7, 2012.
As the Bears continue heading North to Wisconsin after North Texas, they will be facing off against the Badgers for just the second time in school history. The only other time these two teams have faced off was Sept. 5, 2004 where the Badgers won 2-3 in overtime. Baylor will be looking to even the series with Wisconsin on Sunday night.

SOC Traveling to UNT, Wisconsin

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Players Mentioned

Kayley Ables

Mackenzie Anthony

Ava Colberg

Ally Henderson-Ashkinos

Sarah Hornyak

Taylor Moon

Gabby Mueller

Sarah Norman

Lorelai Stramrood

Haven Terry

Jennifer Wandt

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