Baylor Soccer Prepares to Host Texas A&M

Thu Aug 29 10:46:17 CDT 2024

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – Aug. 29, 2024

Baylor Soccer Prepares to Host Texas A&M
Bears facing the Aggies for 22nd time
For more information contact: Katy Gilmore; 254-252-2182, katy_gilmore at baylor.edu<mailto:katy_gilmore at baylor.edu>

BAYLOR (3-1) vs TEXAS A&M (2-1)

Aug. 30, 2024 • 8 p.m. CT • Watch: ESPN+ • Waco, Texas • Betty Lou Mays Field

Story lines

  *   Baylor hosts Texas A&M Friday night at Betty Lou Mays Field in its annual scarf night game.
  *   This match marks the 22nd meeting between these two programs where A&M hold the all-time record over the Bears, 14-4-3. After recording a 1-1 draw last season when these two teams last met, BU is looking to pick up its fifth win over the Aggies.
  *   The 2024 season marks the 28th season of the Baylor Soccer program. During that time, BU has won four Big 12 titles, advanced to two Elite Eights and had four All-Americans to go with countless All-Big 12 and Academic All-Big 12 honorees.
  *   This season also marks the third year of the Michelle Lenard coaching era, as she was selected as the Bears sixth head coach in program history in December of 2021.
  *   With the new Big 12 teams joining the conference this season, the Bears will only play 11 of the 15 other opponents this season. The Bears will face all four of the new schools, Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah. BU will not face Cincinnati, UCF, Kansas or Kansas State in regular season play.
  *   The Bears are 3-1 to open the season, falling to No. 18 Mississippi State in the season opener, 1-0, before turning around and defeating St. Bonaventure, 5-2, in Baylor’s home opener. Baylor then went on the road to the Outrigger Invitationl in Honolulu, Hawaii and took down both Hawaii and Portland, 1-0. BU’s 3-1 start is the best start to play since the 2019 season.
  *   Baylor has a 33 person roster this season and features 25 returners and eight newcomers.
  *   BU has nine starters returning, Hallie Augustyn, Hannah Augustyn, Ava Colberg, Skye Leach, Ashley Merrill, Blythe Obar, Tyler Isgrig, Skylar Zinnecker and Ashlee Zirkel.
  *   Baylor lost just two starters from the 2023 squad.
  *   Joining the 2023 squad are two transfers, goalkeeper Azul Alvarez (TCU) and midfielder Kai Hayes (UNC).
  *   The six incoming freshmen are, Alysiah Lockette, Paisley Mabra, Caelan DeBolt, Jade Martinez, Madison Encinas and Hilary Washington.
  *   Returning to the squad for the first time since the 2022 season in fifth-year Marissa Gray. After working for the past year and applying to PT school, Gray re-joined the Bears to use her fifth year of eligibility. She hasn’t seen playing time since the 2019 season due to injury but returns to the pitch as a veteran on the backline.
  *   This season the Bears roster features two international student-athletes for the first time since the 2017 season. Salma Simonin returns to Baylor from Manchester, United Kingdom and Hilary Washington joins the Bears from Wellesley, Ontario, Canada.
  *   Callie Conrad was responsible for both of Baylor’s goals last week, as the Bears went 2-0. The two goals were her first two goals of the season, and she has already tied her goal total for all of last season. The sophomore is now tied for the most points and goals so far this season. It only took her three shots to net two goals last week.
  *   Azul Alvarez helped the Bears to a pair of shutouts last week at the Outrigger Invitational in Honolulu, Hawaii. She played all 90 minutes in goal in both games, making 12 saves and keeping a clean sheet in both contests. Against Portland, Alvarez made five saves, including multiple diving saves to keep the ball out of the back of the net. BU improved to 3-1 on the season with Alvarez accounting for all three of Baylor’s wins. She set a career-high in saves with seven against the University of Hawaii.
  *   Alvarez and Conrad were named Big 12 Goalkeeper and Offensive Player of the Week, respectively. This marks the Bears’ first time with two selections to win a Big 12 weekly award since Sarah Norman (defensive) and Jennifer Wandt (goalkeeper) during the 2021 season. It is also the first time to have a Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week since Jackie Crowther in 2018.
  *   Merrill was the team’s leading point scorer last season with 25 points from 12 goals and one assist. With her 12 goals, Merrill scored the most goals from an individual player in a single season since Dana Larsen in 2012.

- BaylorBears.com -

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Katy Gilmore | Associate Director of Athletic Communications
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
O: 254-710-2743 | C: 254-252-2182

[cidimage002.png at 01D79F3C.9D2300D0]<http://baylorbears.com/>

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