Baylor soccer opens 2019 in the top 25 for second straight year

Baylor soccer will open the 2019 season Sunday against Northwestern State with new uniforms, but with an increasingly familiar place in the top 25 nationally.

For the second straight season — a program first — the Bears are ranked in the preseason coaches poll, coming in at No. 14 nationally. Baylor is also picked to finish second in the Big 12 Conference preseason poll, behind only West Virginia.

Why are expectations so high? Under Jobson’s leadership, Baylor has established itself as not only a Big 12 powerhouse, but a national force as well. Each of the last two seasons have elevated the bar for the program — a Big 12 tournament title and Elite Eight run in 2017, followed by a Big 12 regular season title, school-record 20 victories and Elite Eight finish in 2018.

Despite losing seven seniors from last year’s squad, coaches nationwide clearly believe Baylor can continue to build on that success. Sophomore defender Kayley Ables was named to the preseason All-Big 12 team, and on offense, the team returns senior Camryn Wendlandt, who tied for the team lead in goals scored.

Baylor welcomes Northwestern State to Betty Lou Mays Soccer Field to open the season Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m., kicking off a schedule that features seven matches against teams that made the NCAA tournament last season. The Bears’ slate includes a nationally televised home match against No. 5-ranked USC before opening Big 12 play at Kansas State on Sept. 26.

Sic ’em, Bears!