Baylor Soccer (13-4-3) was selected as a top 20 overall seed in the 2025 NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament, marking the program’s first trip to the NCAAs since 2018.
The Bears are the No. 5 seed in No. 1 overall seed Notre Dame’s region and will host Texas State at Betty Lou Mayes Field in Waco on Friday for their first-round matchup. The No. 4 seed in the region is Wisconsin, and the No. 8 seed is Georgia.
Not only is this the first time since 2018 that Baylor has made the NCAA Tournament, but it is also the first time under head coach Michelle Lenard, who took over the program heading into the 2022 season.
“It was wonderful to see our name up on the screen, to know that we've accomplished that goal that we set at the beginning of the season,” said coach Lenard, “We want to be in the NCAA tournament every year, we feel that we should be, we have all the resources needed to do that. So felt like a special accomplishment, felt a little bit like a relief, but more importantly, it allows us to take the next step in our preparation for the next game … We’re excited.”
The game against the Bobcats of Texas State will be a rematch of the Bears' 4-1 win in San Marcos back in early September. Tyler Isgrig scored a brace to jumpstart her Big 12 midfielder of the year campaign and help lift the Bears past a strong Texas State team.
“Texas State is a good team. They won their conference,” Coach Lenard reminded reporters, “They've got some really dangerous players. Our game was closer than the score probably looked. They're a tough team, so we're going to be prepared because that is not an easy draw. That's not like a game we expect to just coast through.”
Coach Lenard is no stranger to postseason play, though not at the Division I level, guiding Dallas Baptist to a Division II Final Four in 2021 and an Elite Eight in 2015.
“I think the biggest takeaway that I've learned over the years of playing in postseason is you've got to stick with what got you to this point. Now, we're tweaking some things here and there to tighten the ship in some areas. But ultimately, we know what's allowed us to be successful, and we plan to really lean into that as we get into postseason play.”
The Bears are 9-6 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. The 2018 Bears made it to the Elite Eight with wins over Abilene Christian, Vanderbilt and Virginia, all at home before falling at Georgetown.
The Big 12 overall had eight teams selected for the NCAA Tournament, tying a conference record set in 2003. Those eight teams are the same eight that participated in the Big 12 conference tournament.
Kickoff for the Bears’ round of 64 game against the Texas State Bobcats is set for Friday, November 14th at 7:00 p.m.
