Baylor soccer (14-5-3, 4-4-1 Big 12) had another trademark late rally, tying the match, 1-1, with 16 seconds left in regulation, going on to advance on penalty kicks over No. 9 Southern California (15-3-3) on Friday evening at Ellis Field on Texas A&M campus.
In a highly physical and competitive match, the Bears fell behind on a late goal by the Trojans in the 72nd minute. USC’s Leah Pruitt headed home the goal on a cross deep into the box from Erika Okuma, getting behind the BU defense to net the go-ahead score.
Down to the final ticks of regulation, the Bears kept pushing, getting a break on a sequence in the 90th minute.
At 89:44, with just 16 second remaining, Sarah King drilled home a left-footed goal, led to the opening on a pass from Julie James, tying the match up at 1-1.
After battling through two overtime periods, the teams moved into penalty kicks, a first for the Bears in 2017.
Caitlin Schwartz punched her attempt in, with Jennifer Wandt coming up huge with a save on the opening USC kick.
After James missed the frame on her kick, the Trojans returned the favor, hooking their approach wide to keep the 1-0 BU advantage.
Delanie Davis put the Bears up 2-0, with Wandt making another epic save to allow BU to control its destiny with a fourth-round kick for King.
Once again, the junior defender played hero for the Bears, lacing in her point for BU, punching Baylor’s ticket into the third round.
NOTES
*Baylor notched its ticket into the third round of the NCAA tourney for the first time since 2012 and the second time in program history.
*Baylor improved to 4-3-3 all-time in NCAA tourney action.
*Baylor junior defender Sarah King scored her third goal of the season and the ninth of her collegiate career.
*Baylor junior midfielder Julie James recorded her fourth assist on the year, making it an even 10 in her BU career.
STAT OF THE MATCH
00:16 – the amount of time remaining in regulation on Baylor’s game-tying goal from Sarah King, the latest goal scored by the Bears this season.
WHAT’S NEXT
Baylor awaits the result from the second game of the College Station site, playing the winner of No. 6 Texas A&M and Notre Dame on Sunday, Nov. 19, at 6 p.m. at Ellis Field in College Station.
