Baylor football played five of six spring exhibition games, and I was able to attend two of them. This is what I learned:
TL;DR
⇒ GK battle continues (current Zirkel vs. transferred Alvarez)
⇒ Starter Oval (Sr.) injured, Vatter (R-S.O.) and Mabula (France) recover, Marissa Gray returns.
⇒Midfielder Kai Hayes, transferred from UNC, could be the biggest addition of the offseason.
⇒ Merrill and Isgrig will continue to lead the offense, but they need more options and a better conversion rate to win NCAAs.
⇒ This team has already shown they are better than last year and has raised the bar. They can't go back now.
⇒ The team atmosphere is very good.
goalkeeper
There is still open competition for goaltender starting at the back, primarily between youngster Ashley Zirkle and TCU transfer Azul Alvarez. I believe Alvarez redshirted last year at TCU, but he should still have three years of eligibility left entering the fall. In 2022, Zirkle will also have been away from game action for three years.
Jack McKenzie – SicEm365
Azul Alvarez (#1), TCU transfer goalkeeper
Both players are tall, with Zirkel standing at 5 feet 9 inches and Alvarez at 5 feet 10 inches. Alvarez gained high-level playing experience with Mexico's youth national team before coming off the bench at Forth Worth, while Zirkel has just over half a season of experience as a starter at Baylor since last year.
If I remember correctly, the first game I attended, Zirkel played 60 minutes before Alvarez's 30 against Tyler Junior College. The minutes were reversed, with Alvarez playing the majority against much stronger competition in Arkansas. Even if my memory of the minutes is wrong, the points remain, and as far as I can tell, it's a close battle. Alvarez probably has a slight advantage right now, but that could very well change by August. Neither goalie would be a bad choice.
defense
Jack McKenzie – SicEm365
Natalie Vatter (#3) played a very good 90 minutes against Arkansas.
Looking at the defensive line, the back four is an area to focus on heading into the season. Bryce Ovalle has been out with an injury this spring. With that in mind, Hannah Augustin may play less in defensive midfield than last year. Early-enrolling freshman Paisley Mabula and soon-to-be redshirt sophomore Natalie Vatter will both look for extended playing time. The batter looked especially solid during the 90 minutes against the Razorbacks last Sunday.
So the Augustin twins, Eva Kolberg, Vatter and Mabula, look like solid options at the moment. But never wanting to run out of options for her, Michelle Leonard brings back a familiar face for her final ride. Marissa Gray returns to the Bears after not appearing in a regular season varsity game since her freshman season in 2019. Heading into Leonard's first season in Waco (2022), the Bears' head coach was excited about what Gray could offer on defense. This could end up being a significant move, if nothing more than depth. I hope it has more impact than that for all involved.
midfield
Perhaps that's because Coach Leonard has previously said that midfield may be the most important position group for her system. Perhaps it is because we believe that the midfield is the most important position group period. Maybe it's because she comes from the most successful program in women's college soccer and Baylor needs to find a way to win against such high-level competition…but I don't think Kai Hayes is coming. I believe he will be the most impactful addition to this team heading into the season.
Jack McKenzie – SicEm365
Kai Hayes (#8), UNC transfer midfielder
If your playing style is to keep the ball and build from the back, a midfielder who is calm under pressure and has the skill to put the ball where you want it with one or two touches is most important. I think Hayes' presence can open the door for others along this direction. The roadmap is to steal the ball, feed playmakers Skye Leach or Tyler Isgrig, and pair with leading scorer Ashley Merrill.
There is a lot of talent at the position, but the players who can pivot from defense to offense and sideline to sideline will be the best players to be on the field at Merrill. Whether that means a tandem of two more defense-oriented midfielders (6) or an additional attacking midfielder (10) alongside Merrill…we'll have to wait and see. Perhaps it will be a true 6, 8, 10 midfield (the 8 is box-to-box). who knows?
forward
Ashley Merrill and Tyler Isgrig will likely be the top scorers again at Baylor, but they need to develop more options to get them there and take the pressure off. Coach Leonard knows this and has some promising options.
Rising sophomores Skylar Zinecker and Callie Conrad played in all 19 games last year and were 13-star and 6-star respectively. Conrad ended up playing more minutes, serving as a number nine behind the goal where other players could escape. Her five assists last season would back that up. Zinecker has been spending more time on the right wing and seems to be a great fit against a tough competition like Arkansas. Between them, playing time next season could depend on matchups and tactical needs.
Jack McKenzie – SicEm365
Tyler Isgrig (#11) had 6 goals and 9 assists for Baylor last season
One last forward that needs to be mentioned is early enrollee Alicia Lockett. Lockett is already one of the three fastest players on the team and shows great promise when fit to practice. She suffered a knock midway through this spring and has not played in any exhibitions. Still, keep an eye out for this new bear as she wears number 2 in the fall.
Now let's take a look at some players listed as midfielders on the roster who could be seen more in offensive roles. Theresa McCullough showed a lot of promise last year with her explosive attack from the wing, and she seems to be getting used to the speed and physicality of the college game. Adrianna Merriam is in a similar position, but she seems to prefer cutting in from the side, while McCullough may prefer to win by the end of the match.
We also haven't even mentioned Salma Simonin, who scored three goals last year, the third most on the team. However, I'm not sure where Coach Leonard wants her to play. Although she is listed as a midfielder, she is focused on forwards. If I had to guess, I'd say she's similar to Meryl's sub.
overall notes
Everything is for the “next step”.
Coach Leonard said his motto is “conquest.” Whether you look at this as “he takes it one game at a time” or “wins the task at hand,” the team appears to be in agreement.
The atmosphere in the team is positive. They look like they're having fun and are a close-knit group who share a competitive spirit. This helped them move forward.
They know their game model and tactics very well. They have to think less and can make decisions faster on the field. They know each other well with the least roster turnover in years.
Now they have to turn this into more goals and wins on the field. They have to go out and fulfill the potential that they clearly have.
In a brief conversation with Michelle Leonard after the exhibition game against Arkansas, she said there was no going back on what she showed on the field that day.
They showed they can play and compete against top programs in the SEC, a conference with great physicality and skill. The physicality didn't derail Baylor's plans. Either team could have won, but this was a big improvement from last season's 4-0 losses to BYU and Texas and the 2-0 blowout loss to Texas Tech.
In my own words, the Bears raised the bar. You can't go back to being bullied, getting ahead of yourself, or being overwhelmed. They were better than that and showed it as a team. I believe that the transformation of consistency and chance is the next step. The tougher things are for the Bears, the higher they will be in the Big 12 standings in the fall.