Baylor soccer gets beat up, falls to Nebraska 2-1

Sometimes things just don’t break your way. The Bears learned that the hard way tonight as they dropped their home opener to Nebraska 2-1.

After what looked to be a bright start to the game for Baylor, Nebraska raced out on a counter-attack and put the home team down 1-0, courtesy of Cornhusker Sarah Weber.

Paul Jobson’s team didn’t appear very phased. They went right back to work.

The midfield was holding the Nebraska attack at bay. Specifically, Gabby Mueller was putting in a great shift and after it got even better in the 12th minute. 

Mackenzie Anthony pinged a ball into the box from the left wing and Mueller found herself on the end of it. She created a yard of space and fired it past Nebraska goalie Sami Hauk to tie the game.

But like I said, things weren’t breaking the Bears' way tonight. 

In the 26th minute, Maddie Algya went down near midfield. She had played hard up to that point and paid the price in this punishingly physical match. 

Algya would not return for the Bears. 

The Cornhuskers exploited the drop in play with the substitution. They pinned Baylor back and had their best attacking stretch of the half.

Lorelai Stramrood, who subbed in for Algya, eventually found her footing and the game returned to more of a level contest. 

Nebraska wasn’t done on offense, however. After winning a throw-in deep in the Baylor half, a super dangerous cross was put into a crowded box. Wandt couldn’t get to it and the ball was headed off the crossbar by Olivia Brown (#22). It barely crossed the line.

It was another tough break for the Bears.

Taylor Moon fought hard to equalize in the last two minutes of the half, but the former Big 12 foes headed to the locker rooms at 2-1.

To start the second half, coach Jobson pushed Sarah Hornyak into the midfield, a position she has experience with, and slotted freshman Kate Zimmerman into the back line.

Early in the half Ally Henderson-Ashkinos looked like she picked up a small knock on her leg, and she left the game.

She would be pressed back into service later in the game. Her sub, Lorelai Stramrood, fought hard, but the Baylor midfield just wasn’t the same. 

With about 14 minutes left in the game, Baylor was building better attacks, but the game screeched to a halt when Kate Zimmerman collided head to head with Nebraska’s Haley Peterson.

Blood could be seen coming from Zimmerman’s forehead. After five or so minutes of work, the medical staff had her on her feet and then carted off the field.

Peterson was a great sport and checked on Zimmerman when she was still down on the turf.

After the match, coach Jobson said Zimmerman was doing fine in Baylor’s locker room. 

From there Baylor found the mental fortitude to jump back in where they left off. 

Taylor Moon, Elizabeth Kooiman and Gabby Mueller asked some great questions of the Husker defense. 

Kooiman came the closest with a shot off the left post, but Baylor more often settled for long range shots.

Nebraska had their chances at the other end too. The Bears were chasing the tying goal so the was space in behind. 

Jennifer Wandt did an incredible job keeping the green and gold down by only one. She made two one-on-one saves to give her team a chance.

In the end, even with some great effort by sub Haven Terry, Baylor just couldn’t put a second one in the back of the net.

The Bears dropped their second game against a Big Ten foe this year with a final score of 2-1.

After the game coach Paul Jobson said, “We took too many long-range shots... we created some really good opportunities, enough to win the game tonight.”

On losing the mounting injuries for the team, Jobson said, “She’s a leader. Her and Ally and Gabby have become such a good crew in there that it does throw things off just a little bit. She’s gonna be fine. And not Having [Chloe] Jopic tonight was a big loss for us on the back line."

On Nebraska, Goalie Jennifer Wandt said “They’re Big Ten so we knew they were gonna be tough, they were gonna be physical, they were gonna be good.”

She followed up by saying “Moving forward it's not going to get easier. It was a really good opponent to go against at the beginning of the season.”

On the defensive changes due to injury, Wandt said “You just gotta roll with the punches. I play with these girls every day in practice.”

WotM: Gabby Mueller - She played a heck of a game and looked the brightest for Baylor tonight. Sarah Hornyak gets an honorable mention for her defensive work and versatility to fill in in the midfield.

Up Next: SMU (Sun. 8/29 7PM)