Baylor Soccer is a top 10-ranked team for the first time since the end of the 2018 season, with the United Soccer Coaches poll ranking the Bears of Betty Lou at No. 6 in this afternoon’s release.
Michelle Lenard’s Bears finished last season ranked No. 15 in the nation after their run to the Sweet 16, so this week’s No. 6 ranking is the highest of the Lenard era.
This is also the program's highest-ever ranking in the United Soccer Coaches poll since its inception in 1996.
The Bears climbed from just “receiving votes” in this year’s preseason poll to No. 6 in one week thanks to a dominant 4-1 win at preseason No. 10 Arkansas last Wednesday and a solid 2-1 victory over old rival Texas A&M on Sunday.
The Bears are now the top-ranked team in the Big 12, jumping above No. 9 BYU, No. 12 Kansas, No. 15 TCU, No. 17 Colorado, and No. 22 West Virginia. Baylor was picked to finish 7th in the league’s preseason coaches poll.
The preseason doubts likely stemmed from the loss of both starting center backs, one starting outside back, the starting defensive midfielder, and last year’s leading scorer and Big 12 Midfielder of the Year, Tyler Isgrig.
With a strong recruiting class of transfers and high schoolers, the Bears have reloaded and hit the ground running in the new season.
Baylor Soccer returns to action on Sunday in Waco for a rematch of last year’s NCAA Tournament first round against Texas State. The Bobcats fell to the Bears 3-0 in that game last November. Kickoff for Sunday’s game is set for 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+) and entry is free for fans.
