Northwestern University Athletics
NCAA Tournament Game Preview: NU vs. Baylor, Nov. 15
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
November 13, 1998
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern women's soccer team enters the second round of the NCAA tournament having won five of its last six contests. The team's record of 15-4-1 is its best ever, eclipsing last year's mark (12-7-1). For the first time in the sport's five-year history at NU, the 'Cats finished the regular season undefeated in nonconference games (8-0-1) and at home (8-0-1). Their nine-game winning streak from Sept. 6 to Oct. 2 also set a school record.
Playing in only its third season at the varsity level, Baylor has compiled a 46-13-3 all-time record. In the third-year of what was laid out as a three-year plan in 1996, Baylor's stated goal at the beginning of the 1998 season was to reach the NCAA tournament for the first time. The Bears have compiled winning records in the Big 12 three consecutive years (6-2-1, 1996; 7-3, 1997; 9-1-1, 1998), losing in the second round of the conference tournament the first two seasons (Texas A&M, 1996; Nebraska, 1997). This season's first-round Big 12 tournament loss to Missouri followed an undefeated conference regular season that included a 1-0 win over Missouri. After losing 5-0 to No. 1-ranked North Carolina, the Bears won nine of their final 10 regular season matches, going 8-1 in October.
Junior forward Courtney Saunders leads Baylor in every major offensive category, finishing the season with 14 goals and 7 assists. Junior forward Molly Cameron is second in scoring with 11 goals and three assists.
Randy Waldrum has coached Baylor each of its three seasons. Previously he coached men's and women's soccer at Tulsa (1990-94), where he accumulated records of 66-33-6 and 61-36-9, respectively. In 1990 he was honored as Central Region Coach of the Year. He was the head coach at Texas Wesleyan from 1987-89.
The Wildcats and Bears have never met. The 'Cats are 2-1 in school history vs. Big 12 teams. Their two victories came against Missouri, their loss to Nebraska. They had no games against Big 12 schools this season. Their victory last season against Missouri was by a 6-0 margin. The Bears' only game against a Big Ten opponent was a loss to Minnesota in 1996 (3-0).
NU and Baylor had two common opponents this season, against whom both were 2-0. NU defeated Texas Christian 2-1 and SMU 3-2. Baylor won 5-0 and 3-1, respectively.
The winner of Sunday's match will play the winner of the match between James Madison and No. 2-seeded Florida. (Eight schools received seeds.) In the other half of the Wildcats' bracket, No. 7 Penn State will play Indiana and Vanderbilt will take on Clemson.
