The No. 14 Baker University women’s soccer team will hit the road to Orange Beach, Ala., to continue its journey in the NAIA Women’s Soccer Championship after defeating Bellevue University Saturday in the opening round for the second year in a row.
The Wildcats’ 2-1 victory over the Bruins at Liston Stadium was identical to the outcome of the 2011 opening round match.
Head coach Nate Houser knew the team’s opponent would be out for revenge, but he was proud of the Wildcats’ response to the tough battle.
“We had to fight a team of bullies,” Houser said. “It was on the verge of dirty the whole time, but I think it was just the right team for us to play. It hardened our result and will help us as we continue on from here.”
Baker was first to appear on the scoreboard as sophomore Alexa Fryer’s shot in the 12th minute bobbled through the Bellevue goalkeeper Caitlin Steir’s hands and into the back of the goal. Senior Jordan Dolbin recorded the assist on the play.
“I thought (my goal) was a positive start for us,” Fryer said. “We came out with confidence, but it wasn’t like we had the game in our pocket. We had to keep fighting.”
The ‘Cats fought and maintained their 1-0 lead throughout the first half. Jenica Bloom kept things interesting when she tied the game up for the Bruins in the 52nd minute, but the lead was back in Baker grip just 14 seconds later as Dolbin ripped a shot to put the game away for good.
Sophomore captain Shelby Schiraldi is proud of the team’s resilience and felt its efforts on the field showed that it “never let down.”
“Tonight was the best I’ve seen us play,” Schiraldi said. “This is exactly how we need to play to continue throughout the tournament.”
As the Wildcats proceed to the second round of the national championship, they will face No. 3 Vanguard University, which defeated Embry-Riddle University 3-0 in its opening round matchup. Baker will have the week to train and prepare for its next battle, which will take place at 1:30 p.m. CST on Nov. 26.
Schiraldi wants the team to show up in Alabama ready to fight even harder than it did in the opening round. She hopes the Wildcats can step on the field and play with confidence.
“We don’t need to stress, we don’t need to over-think things, we just need to have fun and play the game like we know how to play,” Schiraldi said.
While Houser knows the journey won’t be easy from here on, he is optimistic in the team’s chances and feels that its experiences on the field this year have shaped the Wildcats for success.
“This team has turned into a lot of job doers,” Houser said. “They work hard, they listen, and they take pride in it. I can’t be more proud and happy for them.”
