Back Line Leads Baylor Soccer Past Kansas State, 2-0

MANHATTAN, Kansas — The Baylor Soccer defensive line made four critical, game-winning plays to help the Bears notch their first Big 12 win of the year, beating the Kansas State Wildcats 2-0 on Sunday afternoon.

Sophomore Hannah Augustyn, playing outside back today, scored the opener and winner for the green and goal in the seventh minute. Fellow defenders Hallie Augustyn, Ava Colberg and Blythe Obar all made last-ditch saves of KSU shots to preserve the Baylor lead as well. 

Freshman Theresa McCullough also scored a beautiful second goal for the Bears in the 35th minute to give Michelle Lenard’s team a bit more of a cushion before the goal-line heroics were needed.

On the game, Baylor was outshot 23-13 by the Wildcats thanks to a 19-3 second half. The halftime adjustments by the home team were massive, transforming the Bears from a free-flowing attacking team with 65% possession into a nervy, hunkered-down defensive side just trying to hold on.

When Hannah Augustyn opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a calm and cool elevated finish from the center of the field, it looked as if Baylor was about to have a fun day of goal-scoring. Hannah Boughton picked out Augustyn easily from the right side and there was an abundance of space and time for Augustyn to pick her target location. 1-0.

The Bears kept pouring forward with Augustyn getting another chance with no pressure in the 16th minute. She sent this one barely wide left.

Two minutes later, Isgrig hit a snap shot toward goal from the right side of the KSU box. It bounced off the left post and away from goal.

The Wildcats managed to get the game under better control as the half wore on, but not without allowing McCullough to net the first goal of her collegiate career.

In the 35th minute, Callie Conrad struggled to control the ball centrally just outside the KSU box. She worked hard to make the most of the situation and ended up drawing three Wildcat defenders in before finding McCullough on the left side of the box.

McCullough hit a first-time, curling shot around and past the keeper into the right side of the goal to double the Bears’ lead. 2-0.

As mentioned before though, KSU was growing into the game. The Wildcats were pressing higher and harder, and forced Blythe Obar into a bad turnover inside her own box in the 41st minute.

Ashlee Zirkel came out to challenge the attacker, but she could not stop the centering pass to another Wildcat. The subsequent shot luckily went right at Hallie Augustyn who had raced back to the goal line. A massive save to help the Bears reach halftime with the 2-0 lead intact.

The second half started off well enough for the Bears, with Ashley Merrill and Tyler Isgrig both working solid shooting chances. However, after getting three shots in the first eight minutes of the period, the Bears were outshot 18-0 for the rest of the game.

Now not every shot is a true goal-scoring chance, but such a disparity shows a massive shift in play from the first half.

KSU was pressing hard and limiting Baylor’s possession. They earned great scoring chances and were unlucky to be shut out. 

From the Bears' perspective, the defensive efforts were great considering the ball was rarely in the KSU half for long during the final 45 minutes.

Major moments that kept the sheet clean for the Bears were back-to-back goal-line saves by Ava Colberg and Blythe Obar as well as a few good saves from Ashlee Zirkel.

The goal line saves came in the 61st minute off of a KSU free kick. It was much like a corner and Colberg deflected a poked shot toward the right post away. Then Obar dove in for a last-ditch challenge at the KSU follow-up shot. Both did very well to get the job done.

Zirkel’s best save of the game came rather late in the game. With just over five minutes to play, some rough and hectic play from the hosts found the ball in the Baylor box and a poked shot being sent toward the Baylor goal. 

The Augustyn twins converged on the shooter right when she made contact with the ball and the shot ricocheted off of one — if not both — of the twins sending it rapidly toward the crossbar after starting as a low shot.

Zirkel reacted quickly and got her hands to the ball, knocking it straight up into the air about a foot about her hands before collecting the ball.

With that, the Bears were able to see out the rest of the game and earn their first Big 12 win of the year, second straight Big 12 shutout, and three points towards qualifying for the conference tournament.

The team still needs to start putting together full, 90-minute performances, but wins are never to be overlooked.

WotM — Hannah Augustyn — It is tough to pick just one of the defenders today, but the Twins were the brightest spots for the Bears and Hannah scored the winner.

Up Next — vs. Iowa State on Thursday, October 5th at 7 PM (ESPN+)