Live Stats | Match Notes
LARAMIE, Wyo. – Wyoming women's soccer will play its first game of the 2017 season
against the Baylor Bears on Sunday, Aug. 20 at Betty Lou Mays Field in Waco,
Texas.
Wyoming returns the majority of its starters and goal
scoring from last season's squad that finished the year 10-8-2 and 6-4-1 in the
MW, logging a third-straight 10-win season for the first time in program
history. Sophomore forward Michaela Stark led UW last season with six goals and
earned a spot on the MW All-Newcomer team. This season's team will be captained
by a trio of seniors, including goalkeeper Georgia Rowntree, defender Claire Parker and forward Alisha Bass.
All three started every game last year for the Cowgirls.
Bass recorded three goals and four assists, while Parker and Rowntree anchored
one of the strongest defenses in the conference. Rowntree's eight shutouts were
tied for the most among MW goalkeepers. Senior Summer Halle and sophomore Brooklynn Mooney will lead the group of midfielders, and also bring back a
wealth of experience. Both played in all 20 games last season, and Halle netted
three goals while Mooney scored one goal.
The Cowgirls competed in their lone preseason match of the
2017 season against South Dakota State on Aug. 11. UW earned a 1-0 victory on a
goal from freshman Grace Collins.
Wyoming last faced a Big 12 team when they clashed with
Kansas in 2015. The Cowgirls earned a 2-1 win over the Jayhawks on the road.
"We're really excited
for this season, especially getting to start the year with Baylor," Parker
said. "We have a lot of depth at every position and I think that's going to
help us out. We've had a good two weeks of training and we're ready to start
playing games. I'm really pleased with the team chemistry so far and it seems
like every position is already clicking. We have good leadership at every line
and I'm confident in every player out there."
Baylor was tabbed to finish fifth in the Big 12 this season
and is off to a strong start, winning both of its preseason matches. The Bears
downed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Aug. 6 by a score of 2-0 and then
defeated Abilene Christian last Friday by the same margin. Baylor outshot its opponents
33-7 in its two exhibitions. Both games were played at home in Waco, Texas.
Junior Midfielder Julie James will be a player to watch for
the Bears after earning a spot on the Preseason All-Big 12 Team. Senior
midfielder Aline De Lima netted two preseason goals for Baylor.
Sunday's competition will be the first-ever meeting between
Baylor and Wyoming. The Cowgirls own a 12-7-1 record all-time against current
members of the Big 12.
Baylor will open its season on Aug. 18 against the
University of Louisiana-Lafayette before hosting the Cowgirls on Sunday.
Kick-off is slated for 5 p.m. MT. Live stats will be
available at the link above, and follow @wyo_soccer for updates.
