Kansas State soccer improves their record to 5-7-2 after a thrilling last-second goal by sophomore forward Riley Baker against the Baylor Bears. A penalty kick was awarded to the Wildcats in the last 18 seconds of regulation, setting up the game-winning kick.
The match was evenly split for the majority of the game. While K-State held the advantage in the first half, Baylor claimed it for most of the second half.
Both teams recorded six shots in the first half — the Wildcats recorded four shots on goal to Baylor’s two. K-State would gain an advantage over the Bears by scoring first, with a goal by Baker into the bottom left side of the opponent’s net.
Baylor began picking up momentum in the second half. In the 52nd minute of regulation, Baylor defender Hannah Augustyn passed the ball across the penalty box to forward Reneta Vargas to tie the score 1-1.
The play was kept even throughout the rest of the half up until the final minute of regulation, with both teams each recording seven shots.
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At the two-minute mark, the Wildcats started pushing the offense, advancing the ball into scoring position where they would gain a yellow card and a penalty kick from Baylor goalkeeper Lauren Traywick, setting up Baker for the game-winning kick.
“She [Baker] had a chip on her shoulder as she played with efficiency today,” head coach Mike Dibbini said. “She got it done for us. If we can get that out of her every single game, she will be a real threat at the top for us.”
Goalkeeper Alaina Werremeyer stood out with her performance too, recording four saves on the day and making school history. Werremeyer became the all-time saves leader for the Wildcats with 183 total saves.
Kansas State will return to Manhattan for its next game against Texas Tech on Thursday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m. at Buser Family Park.
