Soccer Beats Baylor 3-2 in Waco

WACO, Texas - The University of Colorado women's soccer team came from behind in exciting fashion to defeat Baylor University by a score of 3-2 here on a warm Friday evening.

Colorado (7-3-3, 3-1-0 Big 12) got goals from three different players in the effort over the Bears (6-6-2, 0-4-1 Big 12), which marks CU's second-ever win in Waco (2-3-2 all-time).

"Anytime you win on the road in the Big 12 you've got to be happy about that," said coach Bill Hempen. "The kids really responded tonight when we needed them to so we are very happy with the effort and with a win."

The Buffaloes got on the board first on a goal by junior Amber Bettenhausen, the first of her CU career. The ball was played back into the Baylor defense and due to some miscommunication got through the Bear defense. Bettenhausen pursued the ball inside the box and found the open net at the 38:05 mark to give CU a 1-0 lead.

"Amber's goal was a complete effort goal," said Hempen. "A ball was played through, the keeper was coming, and Amber was in a full on sprint. There was confusion, she sprinted by the Baylor kids and the ball got through. Amber was off balance but she saw the ball rolling and knew it wouldn't get there on its own and she rolled it in. It was a good effort goal."

CU's lead would be short-lived however, as Baylor answered just two minutes later when Betsy Kyle netted her first goal of the season on a shot from the middle of the 18 to beat CU starter Kara Linder. It was the first goal that Linder has surrendered this season.

"I thought in the first half we were in complete control and then we gave up a foul at the half line," said Hempen. "(Baylor) dumped the free kick into the box and we didn't clear it well enough and they poked it home. I was really frustrated because until that point, I thought were in control."

Halftime statistics did favor Colorado as the Buffs had six shots to Baylor's two, with the Buffs owning the margin on corner kicks as well at 3-1. Linder was forced into just one first half save, while Baylor's Gianna Quintana made two.

The second half was tame until the last 12 minutes. The game remained tied until the 78th minute, when Baylor's Katie White beat Linder one-on-one to give the Bears their first lead of the game.

"Baylor came out at halftime with a little more belief that they were going to steal this game," said Hempen. "The play was more even in the second half. So at that point we were trying to get forward and we started to get some chances and we had Gianna in full on attack mode. She tried to play it though to Nikki Marshall and they intercepted and countered, and got behind us and scored. I'm thinking to myself, ?You've got to be kidding me.'"

But Hempen did not have to worry for long as the first half story went for CU it would go for Baylor and their 2-1 lead was shortlived.

CU's leading scorer Nikki Marshall scored exactly two minutes later on assists from Kym Lowry and Bettenhausen to knot the game at two apiece. It was Marshall's seventh goal of the season and marks the third game in a row that the reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week has scored at least one goal.

"My goal was handed to me on a platter of goodness from Kym," said Marshall. "She delivered a perfect cross and I just touched it into the goal. I can't tell you how perfect the pass was all I had to do was touch it."

"It was really weird how the kids really responded," said Hempen. "We immediately changed our formation and it was like it got them to understand that they were about to lose to Baylor and their posture changed completely. We scored two minutes later and I turned to Paul (Hogan) and asked, 'Should we go back to the way we were playing?', and he said ?No, if you want to win let's stay how we are.' So we played in that and they had three forwards as well, so it was a risk, putting our three back, but our kids kept winning balls."

CU's persistent effort continued from that game-tying momentum as junior Gianna DeSaverio delivered the game-winner less than four minutes later. It was DeSaverio's third goal of the season and her first game-winner. Lowry notched her second assist of the game and of her career, while Marshall picked up her second assist of the season.

"We worked it down the field really nicely, and I hit the ball to Kym," said Marshall. "Kym touched it to Gianna, and she spun and hit a great shot into the upper 90. It was a really great goal."

The Buffaloes got great effort from a number of players, but Hempen singled out two defenders coming off injuries in particular for their contributions.

"Brittany Dornseif played at least 45 minutes, the most she has this season and she was great," said Hempen. "Jess Quador spelled Brittany into the midfield when we needed a presence after Nikki Keller took a knock and then ?Q' set the tone from there. For two kids that haven't played much lately, for them to step up the way they did was very inspiring for our team."

Colorado will now travel south to College Station to take on the No. 5 Texas A&M Aggies. The Aggies were 2-0 winners over top-ranked Texas on Friday night at home.

Next Event

Team Stats

Nikki Marshall

Amber Bettenhausen

Gianna DeSaverio

Kym Lowry

Players Mentioned

Amber Bettenhausen

Gianna DeSaverio

Brittany Dornseif

Nikki Keller

Kara Linder

Kym Lowry

Nikki Marshall

Jess Quador

Players Mentioned

Amber Bettenhausen

Gianna DeSaverio

Brittany Dornseif

Nikki Keller

Kara Linder

Kym Lowry

Nikki Marshall

Jess Quador