Preview: Baylor Soccer Renews Battle of the Brazos at Texas A&M

After a 1-1-0 start to the season, Baylor Soccer is on its way down to College Station to play a third road game before its home opener on August 31st. 

Baylor beat Oregon 2-0 in Eugene to start the year before dropping a 2-1 contest at Nebraska last Sunday.

Texas A&M is sitting at 0-2-0 after facing a pair of strong opponents in No. 2 Florida State and Washington State. Both of these teams topped the Aggies thanks to a late goal, 2-1 and 3-2 respectively. 

Saturday night’s matchup of the Aggies and the Bears is also a repeat of a spring exhibition game that the Bears won, but it will be a tough task to repeat that result. Texas A&M knows better than most how the Bears have improved since last fall.

“Playing them in the spring obviously benefits us and them,” said Baylor head coach Michelle Lenard, “I don't think there's maybe as many surprises about how we're trying to play and maybe who some of our new players are. But we've also made a lot of new additions since then. We're better than we were in the spring.”

So there are plusses and minuses and time has marched on with a new class of freshmen in both squads. But the familiarity goes deeper than the college game.

“They went to school with them, they played club soccer with them, they're talking to them about this game,” Lenard said, “And it's fun, you know. We embrace that they're right down the road. It's an exciting opportunity. It's fish camp weekend there this weekend. So it's going to be a packed house.”

And the expected capacity crowd of 3,500 should be treated to a great game. The Bears’ possession-based attack will go against a more counter-attacking-centric gameplay for the Aggies. 

Coach Lenard summed up what she expects the battle to be quite well:

“Because the way we play leaves us vulnerable on counterattacks, we have to be super sharp and disciplined in those moments, and they're going to know that but because the way that they play is going to also stretch them in those moments. I think you'll see some fun, exciting back-and-forth opportunities for both teams”

Baylor starting defensive midfielder, Hannah Augustyn, spoke further to the challenges that the hosts could present the Green-and-Gold.

“They'll definitely present some challenges when it comes to organization between the midfield and the defense, and just their speed of play and how we press”

Augustyn and Lenard both mentioned Texas A&M’s speed at the attacking positions, so fans should similarly be aware of that threat to the Baylor defense.

However, despite the specifics of the gameplay, the particular goal-scoring threats, the fun environment and all the other factors … it all comes down to one thing.

“I don't think there's a lot of surprises for either team,” said Coach Lenard “It's just gonna be who executes their game strategy the best.”

Extra Notes from the Bears

Michelle Lenard on scoring goals: “Frankly, this team doesn't care who scores they just care that we score”

Hannah Augustyn on incorporating new teammates: “It would seem like a challenge. But I didn't think it was a challenge. I thought that was like a new opportunity and like a new start… just having a different vibe on the team more intense and it was it was better. Just practices more intense a winning mindset.”

Tyler Isgrig on transferring: “Its just been like a big shift from my last season at my old school and just coming in. I feel like I've had coaches I can trust that have helped me develop and also players around me that have a really good winning mindset and want the best for each other.”