No. 17 Tech downs Baylor, 2-1 to advance to Semifinals

Saturday, November 2

Kansas City, Mo.

2:30 p.m.

Texas Tech Athletics

14-3-2, 8-1-2

No. 10 Baylor

8-8-5, 2-5-4

Baylor

Texas Tech

No. 17 Tech downs Baylor, 2-1 to advance to Semifinals

November 02, 2024 | Women's Soccer

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The Red Raiders clinched their fifth Semifinals appearance in the last six events

By: Andrew Stern

KANSAS CITY – A Taylor Zdrojewski header and a clutch rebound goal from Storie Sexton powered No. 17 Texas Tech Soccer to a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Baylor Saturday in the Quarterfinals of the 2024 Sprouts Farmers Market Big 12 Championships.

With the victory, second-seeded Texas Tech (14-3-2) advances to the Semifinals on Wednesday night against Kansas, who defeated WVU 1-0 in double OT on Saturday. The Red Raiders semifinals appearance is their fifth in the last six years.

Down 1-0 after Baylor (8-8-5) struck in the fifth minute, the Red Raiders answered just 13 seconds into the 10th minute when Macy Blackburn made a run and whipped in a perfect ball that connected with Zdrojewski's head and into the back of the net.

Despite multiple incredible chances to score, the game remained 1-1 until the last 15 seconds of the first half when a late corner kick was awarded. In the setback Baylor's Azul Alvarez made seven saves on 21 total Texas Tech shots. In addition, the Bears backline was credited with a save.

With the clock stopped, Peyton Parsons delivered a perfect near post service that bounced off a Baylor defender and to the feet of Sexton. In one motion, the forward ripped a shot that was initially ruled no goal. Upon the conclusion of the first half and after VAR review the goal was called.

Up 2-1 at the half, the Red Raiders nearly went up 3-1 in the 66th minute when Zdrojewski nearly beat Azul near post, but the goalkeeper stepped up and made the save.

In the 83rd minute, goalkeeper Faith Nguyen made the save of the match, diving to her left to deflect a low line drive shot from Tyler Isgirg. The save was one of three the goalkeeper made to earn her 12th victory of the season.

With the victory, the Red Raiders won 14 matches in a season for the second straight year and eighth time under coach Tom Stone.

HEAD COACH TOM STONE:
"I don't think Baylor had a minute before they scored, which is a tribute to the quality of the player who scored it. And their counter-attacking ability is really dangerous. They carry the ball extremely well. Next thing you know we were down a goal. How you respond is everything, and in the postseason, if you don't respond you go home. It's not just 'game over' or get them next week. You go home. It felt good that we responded. We have one of the best servers of the ball in Macy and one of the best headers in the country in Z [Zdrojewski] and they connected like Macy and Hannah [Anderson] used to. They scored another great goal together. It was a high-level finish, and we're thrilled for Z. She's been through so much to get to where she is today. That was big, and got us even, which calmed us down. We had a 21-9 shot advantage and had more than enough chances to put the game away and relax a bit and get some reserves on. But we did not convert, which is the reason the game went 2-1 to the wire. It was nerve-wracking, Baylor's smart and their coach does a good job. They threw everything at us, and we had to defend like crazy. We move to a five-back and got out of there with a win. And we get to stick around for a couple of more days in Kansas City."

UP NEXT:
The Red Raiders will move on to the Semifinals of the Big 12 Championships on Wednesday night against Kansas. First touch from Kansas City is set for 7 p.m.