Baylor Bear Insider
Michelle Lenard had to wait through a nearly two-hour lightning delay and 75 minutes of game action in Thursday's regular-season opener at Betty Lou Mays Field, but the first-year Baylor soccer coach finally saw the attacking team she had envisioned.
Subbed in for the first time with just over 15 minutes left, sophomore forward Haven Terry took a pass from freshman Skye Leach and made a run down the left side before rifling a shot past Minnesota goalkeeper Megan Plaschko into the right corner of the net.
Terry's second career goal was the equalizer in a 1-1 tie with the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Under a new NCAA rule, the game stopped at the end of regulation, with no overtimes until postseason play.
"When we applied ourselves to the concept of attacking, it was noticeable," Lenard said. "I don't know why it took so long. . . . We want to be applying the pressure. When we did that, we took over the momentum of the game. It just took too long for that to happen, and we weren't able to string together long enough moments."
With last year's leading scorers, Mackenzie Anthony and Taylor Moon, both out with injuries, Lenard started three transfers from her Dallas Baptist team and four other first-time Baylor starters in the season opener.
"Lot of nerves in this game, first real game of the season, a lot of new players and just overall a good Minnesota team," said fifth-year senior midfielder Maddie Algya. "I think confidence is the key. Just coming out a little more confident, a little more swag, I guess, knowing that we're a good team and we can beat anybody."
Scheduled for a 7 p.m. start, the game was delayed until 8:47, and neither team was able to get on the board in a defense-controlled first half.
"It was a little tough, but we've been in this situation many times before, at TCU last year," Algya said. "We know what lightning can do, but we're just taught to overcome any obstacles. We had fun in the locker room, so spirits were high, and then we just came right back out."
The Golden Gophers scored just under seven minutes into the second half, when sophomore forward Khyah Harper blasted a shot from just inside the 18-foot mark that glanced off the crossbar and into the left corner of the net for a 1-0 lead.
"I don't think that goal needs to happen, if we handle that corner-kick situation better," Lenard said. "We made an error there. We step up the pressure on that ball and have all the players out of the box, and that may not happen. That's also a great opportunity for (goalkeeper Lauren Traywick). She hasn't had a lot of game minutes, and tonight she got really valuable experience."
When Lenard dipped into her bench in the final 20 minutes, the Bears got a big lift from Terry, Leach, Auburn transfer Micah Beasley and junior midfielder Gabby Mueller.
"We were trying to find something that was clicking," Lenard said. "It just didn't feel right in a couple ways, so we tried a couple different things, looking for players who could come in and settle the game down and make good decisions. Those players did that, and there were some players who didn't play as much tonight that can still contribute. It's just the matchups that made it difficult."
Terry, whose only previous goal was the game-winner in last year's 2-1 overtime win over SMU, said there was a "little bit of an adrenaline rush" when she finally got into the game.
"You're like, 'Put me in, Coach,''' Terry said. "You get a couple sprints in, and when you come in, it's game time. . . . I feel like all the girls who went in had fresh legs. Minnesota had been playing super-direct, running around the entire game. So, putting in fresh legs was good for the team."
The Bears had more chances in the last 10 minutes, including a corner kick in the final seconds, but couldn't find the net again.
"Obviously, happy that we were able to show some resiliency there at the end and find a way to get back in the game and score a goal," Lenard said. "I really felt like we had the momentum there at the end, and we weren't lucky enough to come away with a second goal. But overall, that's not how we want to play, if we're being really honest with ourselves. And that's the only way we're going to get better moving forward."
Baylor returns to the pitch Sunday for a 7 p.m. matchup against a Wisconsin team (0-0-1) that tied seventh-ranked TCU, 0-0, Thursday night in Fort Worth. The Badgers made it to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 last year.
THE RUNDOWN
WACO, Texas – Baylor soccer came from behind to tie Minnesota, 1-1, Thursday night at Betty Lou Mays Field.
After an almost two-hour weather delay, the Bears and Golden Gophers finally kicked off at 8:47 p.m., with seven of Baylor's 11 starters picking up their first start in the green and gold.
With a strong start defensively, the Bears held Minnesota to just three shots in the first half, none on goal. Ashley Merrill recorded one of Baylor's three shots of the first half, as the Golden Gopher goalkeeper had to make a save.
Coming out fighting in the second half, Minnesota scored a goal in the 52nd minute off of a corner kick to go ahead, 1-0 in the match.
Starting in goal for the Bears was Lauren Traywick, who came up big in the second half,recording four saves to stop Minnesota from extending its lead.
Subbing in, in the 74th and 78th minutes were Haven Terry and Skye Leach, who immediately connected on offense for the Bears. Terry scored the equalizing goal in the 79th minute on an assist from Leach.
The Bears continued their momentum through the end of the match, but due to a new NCAA rule, all regular-season matches conclude at the end of regulation time, even when resulting in a tie.
In total, 18 Bears saw playing time, including eight newcomers.
HIGHLIGHTS
TOP QUOTES
Michelle Lenard on the game …
"Well, obviously, happy that we were able to show some resiliency there at the end and find a way to get back in game and score a goal. And I really felt like we had the momentum there at the end and we weren't lucky enough to come away with a second goal."
Haven Terry on her goal …
"I feel like there's a bit of adrenaline rush, and you're like "Put me in, coach." You get a couple of sprints in, and when you come in it's go-time."
Maddie Algya on continuing intensity …
"I think there's a lot of nerves this game, it is the first real game of the season, a lot of new players and just overall a good Minnesota team. I think we just need to be more confident. Confidence is key. If we came out more aggressive and with a little more swag it could be a difference maker. So, I think that confidence is key right out the gate and just knowing that we're a good team, we can beat anybody."
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