WACO, Texas — No. 20 Baylor Soccer (8-1-2, 3-1-0 Big 12) defeated the Iowa State Cyclones (4-4-2, 1-3-0 Big 12) by a score of 3-0 to make it three straight 3-0 wins in Big 12 play. Junior forward Callie Conrad netted a brace, with sophomore winger Alysiah Lockette scoring the final nail in the ISU coffin.
Michelle Lenard’s Bears are now a single point away from their season total in the Big 12 last year after gathering nine points in the last eight days. Baylor Soccer is also in the United Soccer Coaches top 25 for the first time since October of 2021, the final year of Paul Jobson’s tenure as head coach. The Bears also boasted a top 10 RPI heading into tonight’s contest.
Looking back at the game against the Cyclones, the Bears did not start with the fury that saw them threaten Kansas early and score quickly against now No. 13 Mississippi State in the Bears' 2-0 win earlier this season.
Iowa State is a very defensive team, and they like to keep numbers in a low block in front of their goal. For that reason, scoring first is a bit more important than normal; it forces the defensive team further from their preferred style.
Callie Conrad made that breakthrough for the Bears in the 21st minute of action. After a Baylor free kick was recycled out of the ISU box, Theresa McCullough sent a cross into the box from the right wing. Baylor defensive midfielder Hannah Augustyn made a run for the cross that drew defenders, and Conrad found space behind the run to redirect the cross perfectly into the bottom left corner of the Cyclones’ goal.
1-0 Baylor.
Conrad was once again in the right place at the right time in the 34th minute. Kai Hayes forced a turnover near midfield, feeding super-sub Aryanna Jimison the ball on the left side. Jimison’s cross — intended for Alysiah Lockette — was headed away, but not well. The ball fell right to Conrad, a few yards left of the penalty spot. One touch for control and another to shoot the ball past the ISU keeper and into the top left of the goal. Clinical.
2-0 Baylor.
At the other end, Iowa State was not completely shut down on offense, but over the 90 minutes, the Cyclones only managed three shots on goal. There was a shot that did not land on frame that was likely Iowa State’s best chance to score, but the Cyclone attacker could not make Azul Alvarez pay for getting caught away from goal.
The second half was a mostly dull affair thanks to the stout Baylor defense, with the one shining moment where Alysiah Lockette poked home a great cross from Lauren Omholt in the 72nd minute. The chance was born from a nice Aryanna Jimison turn off a throw-in. Jimison slipped a pass out left to Omholt that drew the keeper off her line. Omholt’s first time cross was right where it needed to be for Lockette, and the Bears reached the same scoreline their last games featured.
3-0 Baylor.
The win saw Azul Alvarez and the Baylor back line earn another clean sheet, their eighth of the season.
Now the Bears prepare for a Sunday matchup with a Colorado team that received votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll last week and just beat No. 7 TCU 3-1 in Fort Worth. That game is set to kick off at 1 p.m. CT in Wac,o and the stream will be available on ESPN+.
