Email This Story

Soccer team heads to San Antonio

Nov. 4, 2009

Bears kick off tournament against Texas A&M Aggies

Sarah Groman | Lariat Staff Junior Lotto Smith (No. 11) dribbles toward the goal in an Aug. 28 game against North Dakota State. Smith helped propel the Bears to an 8-5-5 record (3-4-3 in Big 12) as she led the team with 18 points.

By Jessica Goodlett
Reporter

The Baylor soccer team has made it to the Big 12 Tournament for the first time since 2006. Head coach Marci Jobson said that it was a huge goal for the team to make it to the tournament this season.

"It's just awesome how the girls have really come together and achieved a huge goal of ours," Jobson said. "I'm just excited to go in there and compete."

Jobson also boasted that the players covers for one another's mistakes. She said that they will get some chances offensively to make something happen, but they have to be able to defend. Jobson said this, combined with the competiveness the team has, can cause some upsets against big teams.

The Bears will open tournament play against the Texas A&M Aggies today in San Antonio.

Forward Lotto Smith said it's a privilege to be in the tournament and is looking to create some upsets against some big-name teams.

"I feel that we can upset the Aggies. We played them our first game and we were just kind of warming up," Smith said. "I think we're warm now and we can definitely upset them."

Smith was a little concerned about the team's complacency in the past but feels that they can overcome that in the tournament.

"I think we know now that we have to bring it at the beginning and not just wait until the second half," Smith said. "We just have to go out there at the beginning and give it all we have, so they know what we're about."

Goalkeeper Gianna Quintana is confident in the team's defense.

"Marci has stuck with her defenders," Quintana said. "She's not making a lot of changes, and I think with that, it's just made us grow and build as a defensive unit and honestly, any success or whatever that has come my way, I owe it all to them."

This isn't the first tournament that Quintana has competed in. She played her freshman year in 2006. Ironically, the Bears played Texas A&M that year as well.

"My freshman year when I came in we played A&M our first round, and we just came out scared," Quintana said. "We didn't play well as a team, and this year I think it's going to be different."

Jobson agreed and said the team has stepped up its game offensively from previous years.

"This year we've scored a lot more goals than last year, so it definitely helps being able to put the ball in the net," Jobson said. "Last year we were very strong defensively, but we weren't able to score. This year we have a little bit better of a balance."

Jobson has emphasized to the girls that each game is "another day we have to play together." Quintana has taken that to heart and says that the girls are ready.

"I look at it as one more day for my last year, one more day to play with my sister, one more day to play with these girls on this team who are incredible," Quintana said. "I really think we have a great shot."

More News ...