Baylor Bears
Overall Rank: #28
#3 Big 12
Baylor Team Page
Baylor started the 2013 campaign with an 8-0-2 record. Their first loss did not come until September 29th against a very strong West Virginia squad. But that great start came crashing down quickly in the heart of Big 12 play. Starting with that WVU contest, the Bears lost five of their next six. At that point the NCAA Tournament hopes looked slim, but Baylor does deserve a lot of credit for winning their last two regular season games and their Big 12 tournament opener to give the committee something to think about. In the end the Bears missed the tournament, but they will have another good chance at making it in 2014.
2013 Record: 11-6-3, 3-4-1
2013 Postseason: None
Coach: Marci Jobson
Returning Leaders:
Goals: Bri Campos, Junior, F, 6; Ashley York, Sophomore, M, 6
Assists: Bri Campos, Junior, F, 4
Shots: Bri Campos, Junior, F, 45
Saves: Michelle Kloss, Senior, GK, 58
Other Key Returnees: F Natalie Huggins, D Lindsay Burns, D Anjadai Seals, D Katie Daigle
Key Losses: M Kat Ludlow, F Vic Hoffman, M Larissa Campos, D Taylor Heatherly, M Karlee Summey, D Selby Polley
Strengths:
The Baylor defense kept this team in every game. The losses were almost always by just one goal with the lone exception coming at Kansas when Baylor allowed a relatively late second goal to lose 2-0. Coach Marci Jobson will have this team playing great defense again in 2014 and, while they may not record 13 shutouts in 20 games again, the unit will be among the best in the Big 12 and in the country. It starts between the posts with keeper Michelle Kloss. She is heading into her third year as the starter and has allowed just 27 goals in her 45 career starts. Defender Lindsay Burns earned nine starts as a freshman and is more than ready to step into a full-time starting job in the middle of the defense. Anjadai Seals and Katie Daigle are a couple of experienced juniors who will help bolster the back line.
Weaknesses:
The bad news is this is not one of the most potent offenses around, but the top goal scorers are returning in the hopes to boost the scoring output. In their last seven games of 2013, Baylor scored just three goals. Relying on the defense and Kloss is fine, but the Bears need to find the back of the net on a more consistent basis if they want to reach the NCAA Tournament. Strikers Bri Campos and Natalie Huggins and midfielder Ashley York accounted for 16 of the team’s 30 goals and will look to increase their production this time around. Campos is emerging as a leader up top and led the team with four assists on top of her six goals. York had a great freshman season, totaling six goals, three of which were game winners, and one assist. But a lot of those goals came early in the season when the competition was easier and Baylor will need somebody to emerge as a clutch scorer.
Final Projection:
York and Campos did start scoring again late last season. During their three game winning streak of 1-0 victories, it was York and Campos who were hooking up nicely and finishing effectively. If that continues in 2014 and there are a few more goals to be found, this is not just a team that will return to the NCAA Tournament, but it is a team that will compete for a Big 12 title.
Projected Postseason: NCAA Tournament
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 1.50 (120th in nation, 4th in conference)
Goals-Against Average: 0.626 (18, 2)
Shutout Percentage: 0.650 (8, 2)
Save Percentage: 0.824 (51, 2)
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