WACO, Texas – Sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Sestak's career-high 17 saves proved to be the difference maker as the McNeese soccer team battle seventh-ranked Baylor to a 0-0 tie in two overtimes on Sunday.
 
The Spring, TX native saved a last-ditch effort from Baylor in the closing seconds of the second overtime as she saved a shot from Larissa Campos to break the Bears' 13-game home winning streak dating back to 2011.
 
"You talk about wanting to see some ladies play some big-time soccer and really gave their all then this was the game to see," said head coach Scooter Savoie.  "We had to battle a top 10 team in the heat and all we saw were our players digging deeper and deeper and never gave up.  We were proud in how they continued to find ways to win the game.  I am extremely proud of them today."
 
This is the first time that the Cowgirls (5-2-1) have either won or tied with a nationally ranked team and are the only Southland Conference team that has taken Baylor (6-0-2) to overtime play.  McNeese became just the second school in the league to either defeat or tie with the Bears since Stephen F. Austin defeated Baylor in 2005.
 
Sestak, who was out the last few games due to a hand injury, came in to play the second half in Friday nights loss to North Texas and has not given up a goal since.  The sophomore goalie etched her name into the McNeese soccer record books after recording the second most saves in a game, a record held by Amanda Bisby who recorded 18 saves against Louisiana-Monroe in 2000.
 
"Lauren had a big day today getting 17 saves and she was really big on being able to step out into crosses and corners," said Savoie.  "We absorbed a lot of the corners from Baylor but she was able to step up and make the plays."
 
Baylor, who dominated the game offensively with 32 total shots, 17 which came on goal, held nothing back, attempting 14 shots in the first half, but were not able to get any past the McNeese defense.  Baylor's Kat Ludlow's header shot off of a corner kick was missed wide right in the 23^rd minute while junior Krista Steinbeiser took the Cowgirls only shot on goal, which was saved by Bears goalie Michelle Kloss in the 30^th minute.
 
The Cowgirls were able to suppress the Baylor defense in the second half as the Bears four corners and 10 shot attempts were not able to go in sending both teams in overtime play.
 
Sestak came up with two big saves in the closing minutes of the first overtime period as BU's Hadley Young's header shot in the 95^th minute was saved.  A shot from Selby Polley with 23 seconds left was also saved by Sestak who gave McNeese life as they headed to the final OT period.
 
Baylor took all four shots in the final 10 minutes of the game.  A corner kick with five minutes left could not convert into a goal for the Bears.  With under a minute remaining Baylor took one last shot as BU's Larissa Campos took a shot with under 25 seconds left which was saved by Sestak to end the game in a 0-0 tie.
 
"This was a really big team effort today, which is key," said Savoie.  "This was a team that dug in and was willing to go put pressure on our opponent and was a team that was really looking to find a way to win.  Hopefully we can learn from this game and continue to get better as we head into conference play."
 
The Bears finished the game leading in shots 32-5, shots on goal 17-1, corner kicks 12-0 and fouls 16-8.
 
The Cowgirls look to take the momentum and use it next weekend as they open up conference play at Nicholls on Friday, Sept. 20 at 4 p.m.  McNeese will return home on Sunday, Sept. 22 to take on Southeastern Louisiana in a 1 p.m. match-up.