Houston head coach Ben Williams looks on during the second half of an NCAA women’s college soccer match against Iowa State, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026 in Houston. (Oscar Herrera/The Cougar)
The No. 25 Houston Cougars soccer team faced No. 8 Baylor in Waco, Texas, at the Betty Lou Mays Field and lost 2-1. Houston entered the match with a record of 1-7-1 against the Bears. Both teams first met on Sept. 5, 2003, in Houston, as the Cougars took their first loss.
Both teams opened the match with aggressive defensive play, limiting early offensive opportunities. Eight minutes into the match, Baylor recorded its first shot of the game, but was off target. Two minutes later, senior midfielder Aryanna Jimison recorded a shot after the Bears displayed some offense, but her shot was off target.
Senior forward Lauren Omholt converted a penalty kick to give Baylor the opening goal. Houston recorded their first shot around the 23-minute mark when senior midfielder Ava Shannon took the shot but it went off target.
At the 20-minute mark, Houston saw another near goal as junior forward Jada Arthurs shot went off target. After a slow start, the Cougars’ offense improved its ball movement as they navigated around Baylor’s tough defense.
Baylor held a 1-0 lead at halftime. After an aggressive start, Baylor slowed its pace, allowing Houston to become more aggressive offensively in the final minutes of the first half.
Baylor opened up the second half with another goal as junior midfielder Noelle Sather scored from the corner kick. At the 28-minute mark, sophomore forward Samira Minor assisted sophomore forward Bailey Cate, who scored Houston’s first goal with a shot toward the bottom-left corner.
The pace of the match changed after Cate’s goal. The Cougars spent the second half searching for another scoring opportunity, but the Bears’ defense wouldn’t allow them to get another chance to tie it up.
The Cougars’ defense increased as they attempted to regain possession. Houston got a chance to tie the match from a free kick with the second half reaching its final moments, but they couldn’t get the shot on target.
Houston fell to Baylor 2-1 as they wrapped up the regular season.,
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