Bears Complete Second-Half Comeback in Dallas, Beat SMU 2-1

DALLAS — Baylor Soccer (5-1) overcame a sup-par first-half performance and a one-goal deficit to top the SMU Mustangs (4-3) by a score of 2-1.

Second-half goals from junior defender Hallie Augustyn and junior forward Tyler Isgrig were the difference-makers on the scoreboard, but solid performances from many others were pivotal in helping the Bears extend their winning streak to five games. Junior midfield Skye Leach, senior goalkeeper Azul Alvarez and redshirt sophomore defender Natalie Vatter stood out to head coach Michelle Lenard.

The Green and Gold were a touch off through the first half, with passing weight and ball control issues being the clearest signs.  

“It wasn't a very good first half,” said Coach Lenard, “We were flat. We kind of thought we might be. Like we were just feeling that before the game, and we've got to work through that a little bit better coming into these games.”

This translated to the Mustangs taking a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute thanks to a bad Baylor turnover. Truth Byers found Eliana Salama at the edge of the box and she fired the ball past Alvarez into the bottom left corner of the goal. 

The Bears did generate some decent chances in the first half. Specifically, Baylor looked to have taken the lead in the 6th minute before the header was called back for offsides.

Late in the first half, Alvarez made a key save to keep the deficit at one. A Mustang sent a powerful shot high to Alvarez’s left. The Bears’ keeper dove, tipping the ball onto the crossbar before it ricocheted back into Alvarez and away. (Note, this was what I saw from the other end of the field, so perhaps this is not exactly what happened.) 

Moments later, sophomore forward Callie Conrad forced a turnover in the SMU box, but fired her shot right at the keeper.

After a halftime pep talk and time to re-focus, the Bears were markedly better in the second half. 

Just ten minutes into the period, Tyler Isgrig drove a low cross into the box where Hallie Austin fought her way onto the end of it to poke it home. 1-1.

Then in the 77th minute, Isgrig made sure the comeback was completed by taking a pass from Ashley Merrill, shaking her defender near the top left corner of the box and curling the ball toward the top right of the SMU goal. The ball found its home and the Bears were up 2-1. 

The Alvarez and the defense stepped up from there to make it through the Mustangs’ last-gasp attempts to tie and the Green and Gold made it out of Dallas with a win. 

“We played fantastic last Friday,” said Coach Lenard, “and then today, had a slow start and still found a way to win. So very proud.”

Coach Lenard’s squad is now on a five-game heater as they roll into Iowa City on Sunday for a matchup with the No. 22 Hawkeyes. 

“They're very defensively organized,” commented Coach Lenard, “They're going to be hard to break down, but we're getting going here offensively. We're creating some better chances.”

The confidence that Lenard has in her squad has been hard-earned. In year three, the former Division II coach is showing that she may yet achieve for Baylor the heights she managed at Dallas Baptist. It’s all just a process.

“We're getting wins against teams we weren't beating two years ago or even last year and so, and that's the goal.”