Waco - Playing one of the most talented opponents the Bearkats will face this year, the Sam Houston women's soccer team opened its 2011 schedule with a 3-0 loss to Baylor at Betty Lou Mays Field Friday night.
Each of Baylor's 11 victories last year was a shutout and goalkeeper Courtney Seelhorst and her back line picked up another. The Bears did not allow Sam Houston a shot in the first half and picked up an early goal to led for almost the entire contest.
"We knew coming in Baylor was going to be big and fast and that they would expose some of our weaknesses," Sam Houston head coach Tom Brown said. "But there were bright spots to and the effort was there. Now, we go to work on fixing the weaknesses and getting better. We have a chance to do that Sunday night when we play Houston Baptist."
Vic Hoffman touched in a goal 4:13 into the contest, taking a long ball from Hanna Gilmore and beating Bearkat goalkeeper Michele McCullough on the Bears' first shot of the game.
McCullough and the defense bounced back to thwart numerous other Baylor attacks. But the Bears struck again just 1:09 before intermission as Justine Hovden came down the right side through three defenders and punched a shot into the net at the far post.
Holding Baylor scoreless for the first 35 minutes of the second half, Alexa Wilde finally kicked in a cross from Shelby Polley in the 80th minute.
Baylor totaled 20 shots. Five were saved by McCullough and a sixth was knocked off the line defensively by Tricia Mallory. Five freshman played in the contest, giving the newcomers experience.
Sam Houston will open its home schedule Sunday night when the Bearkats play host to Houston Baptist at Joseph Pritchett Field. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
Sunday is "3 Spoons Yogurt Night" at Pritchett with free samples for the first 10-0 Bearkat fans through the gate. Admission for Bearkat soccer at Pritchett Field is free.
