FORT WORTH, Texas – No. 23 Baylor soccer (12-3-4, 7-3-1 Big 12) mounted a thrilling comeback Monday against No. 15 Texas Tech (13-2-4, 7-1-3 Big 12), tying the match late in regulation and holding steady through double overtime before advancing 7-6 on penalty kicks.

The Bears fell behind early in the third minute when Sam Courtwright found the back of the net, but goalkeeper Azul Alvarez responded by staying composed and recording three key saves before the half to keep BU within striking distance.

After a slow start offensively, BU settled in as Theresa McCullough recorded the Bears’ first shot on goal in the 22nd minute. Baylor’s best chance at an equalizer before the break came on a set piece from the top of the box with one second remaining, when Aryanna Jimison’s strike was narrowly stopped by Texas Tech goalkeeper Faith Nguyen, sending the Bears into halftime trailing by a goal.

In the second half, the Bears came out strong, controlling possession and earning back-to-back corners in the 53rd minute. The sustained pressure paid off moments later in the 55th minute when Hannah Augustyn capitalized on a pair of deflections from Lauren Omholt and Jimison, slotting home the equalizer for her first goal of the season.

To close regulation, the Baylor backline and Alvarez held strong as Texas Tech applied heavy attacking pressure but couldn’t break through, sending the match into extra time with the score still level.

In overtime, the golden goal rule was in effect with two 10-minute periods played before heading to penalty kicks to decide the match. The Bears controlled possession throughout extra time, testing Texas Tech goalkeeper Faith Nguyen on multiple occasions but couldn’t find the back of the net.

To decide the match, the two teams headed to penalty kicks. The Bears battled back after falling behind early in the shootout, leveling the score after the first five attempts. Alvarez came up with a crucial save to open the window for Ashlee Zirkel to bury the game-winner and lift the Bears to a 7-6 victory and secure the upset.

UP NEXT
Baylor advances to the semifinal round of the 2025 Big 12 Soccer Tournament presented by Allstate. The Bears will face the winner of Game 2 between No. 8 seed BYU and top-seeded TCU on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. in Fort Worth.

To stay up to date throughout the year on all things Baylor Soccer, follow the team on Facebook, X and Instagram: @BaylorFutbol.

 

 – BaylorBears.com –