Getting To Know Women's Soccer: Taylor Barg

From SMUMustangs.com:
Getting To Know Women's Soccer: Taylor Barg
Sophomore Living Up To High Expectations
Oct. 2, 2014
DALLAS (SMU) - Before Taylor Barg even stepped foot on the Hilltop, the sophomore defender/midfielder had ties to SMU. At Plano West High School, Barg played under Head Coach Carley Phillips, a former SMU women's soccer player who suited up for the Mustangs from 2005 to 2008.
Although Phillips was a four-year starter for the Mustangs, it was her off-the-field involvement on campus that lured Barg to SMU.
"I wanted to be involved not only in athletics, but also in a sorority," said Barg. "She (Phillips) told me how well taken care of the soccer team was and that definitely encouraged me to come here."
In addition to ties to SMU, Barg also had family connections to Division I soccer.
Both of Barg's older sisters played soccer at Division I schools, creating lofty expectations for the Plano, Texas, native. Courtney, Barg's oldest sister, helped carry Notre Dame to a national championship in 2010 and Kristen was a four-year letterwinner at TCU.
"It's definitely tough," Barg said of the precedent her sisters set. "I feel like I'm held to a standard not only by my family, but by coaches as well."
However, this standard has pushed Barg to be the best player she could possibly be.
"At the same time, it motivated me to step up in each game I play in and for each coach I play for," said Barg.
Through one and a half seasons, Barg has certainly lived up to the expectations. Last year, as a midfielder, Barg was named to the American Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team. She tallied four goals and six assists, ranking 12th in that category among all NCAA freshmen.
This year, with so many new faces on the roster, Barg has made the switch to outside back.
"I had a similar transition in club," Barg said about the switch from midfield to defense. "I played defensive midfield and then switched to center defender, but it's definitely an adjustment. I have a great back four that I'm playing with and they've helped me adjust to the new environment."
The back four, consisting of Barg, senior Olivia Elliott, fellow sophomore Taylor Jackson and freshman Lauren Harrington have put together an impressive 2014 campaign. More responsibility has been placed upon the backline this year due to injuries at the goalkeeper position. In SMU's five wins, the defense has conceded just four goals.
Barg and the defense have been a big reason for the Mustangs' turnaround after a 1-4 start. Since then, the team has gone 4-2 and is off to a 1-0 start in conference play.
"In the beginning, I think we didn't connect well because we're young and we had a lot of position switches," said Barg. "But, we've definitely learned to play together."
On Friday, SMU takes on No. 22 UCF, the reigning AAC champions. The Mustangs and the Knights are the only undefeated teams remaining in conference play, making Friday's contest a fight for first place. On Sunday, the Mustangs head to Tampa for a showdown with conference foe, USF.
"It gives us motivation to play well in our first weekend of true conference play," said Barg of this weekend's implications. "I'm expecting two wins with this team. Everyone is motivated to put pressure on the entire conference that we are here to play."
A full preview for this weekend's matches can be found on SMUMustangs.com.
Barg Quick Facts
2014 (So.): Has started all 11 games... Tallied assists against Missouri (Aug. 31) and UTSA (Sept. 7)... Tied for second on the team in assists with two... HONORS: Preseason First Team All-Conference (CollegeSportsMadness.com).
Career: Has started all 30 games in her career... As a freshman, she scored four goals, good for third on the team, and recorded six assists, ranking second on the team, eighth in the conference and 12th among all NCAA freshmen... Scored game-winning goals against Sam Houston State (Sept. 16, 2013) and in the 89th minute against Houston (Oct. 18, 2013)... HONORS: 2013 American Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team.
Personal: Played at Plano West Senior High School under head coach Carley Phillips, who is an SMU women's soccer alumni... Helped lead Plano West to a state title in 2012... In high school, posted a 4.2 GPA as a member of the National Honors Society... Is one of three Barg sisters to have played Division I soccer. Her oldest sister, Courtney, won a national championship with Notre Dame in 2010 and her other sister, Kristen, played soccer at TCU.
Getting To Know Women's Soccer: Taylor Barg
Sophomore Living Up To High Expectations
Oct. 2, 2014
DALLAS (SMU) - Before Taylor Barg even stepped foot on the Hilltop, the sophomore defender/midfielder had ties to SMU. At Plano West High School, Barg played under Head Coach Carley Phillips, a former SMU women's soccer player who suited up for the Mustangs from 2005 to 2008.
Although Phillips was a four-year starter for the Mustangs, it was her off-the-field involvement on campus that lured Barg to SMU.
"I wanted to be involved not only in athletics, but also in a sorority," said Barg. "She (Phillips) told me how well taken care of the soccer team was and that definitely encouraged me to come here."
In addition to ties to SMU, Barg also had family connections to Division I soccer.
Both of Barg's older sisters played soccer at Division I schools, creating lofty expectations for the Plano, Texas, native. Courtney, Barg's oldest sister, helped carry Notre Dame to a national championship in 2010 and Kristen was a four-year letterwinner at TCU.
"It's definitely tough," Barg said of the precedent her sisters set. "I feel like I'm held to a standard not only by my family, but by coaches as well."
However, this standard has pushed Barg to be the best player she could possibly be.
"At the same time, it motivated me to step up in each game I play in and for each coach I play for," said Barg.
Through one and a half seasons, Barg has certainly lived up to the expectations. Last year, as a midfielder, Barg was named to the American Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team. She tallied four goals and six assists, ranking 12th in that category among all NCAA freshmen.
This year, with so many new faces on the roster, Barg has made the switch to outside back.
"I had a similar transition in club," Barg said about the switch from midfield to defense. "I played defensive midfield and then switched to center defender, but it's definitely an adjustment. I have a great back four that I'm playing with and they've helped me adjust to the new environment."
The back four, consisting of Barg, senior Olivia Elliott, fellow sophomore Taylor Jackson and freshman Lauren Harrington have put together an impressive 2014 campaign. More responsibility has been placed upon the backline this year due to injuries at the goalkeeper position. In SMU's five wins, the defense has conceded just four goals.
Barg and the defense have been a big reason for the Mustangs' turnaround after a 1-4 start. Since then, the team has gone 4-2 and is off to a 1-0 start in conference play.
"In the beginning, I think we didn't connect well because we're young and we had a lot of position switches," said Barg. "But, we've definitely learned to play together."
On Friday, SMU takes on No. 22 UCF, the reigning AAC champions. The Mustangs and the Knights are the only undefeated teams remaining in conference play, making Friday's contest a fight for first place. On Sunday, the Mustangs head to Tampa for a showdown with conference foe, USF.
"It gives us motivation to play well in our first weekend of true conference play," said Barg of this weekend's implications. "I'm expecting two wins with this team. Everyone is motivated to put pressure on the entire conference that we are here to play."
A full preview for this weekend's matches can be found on SMUMustangs.com.
Barg Quick Facts
2014 (So.): Has started all 11 games... Tallied assists against Missouri (Aug. 31) and UTSA (Sept. 7)... Tied for second on the team in assists with two... HONORS: Preseason First Team All-Conference (CollegeSportsMadness.com).
Career: Has started all 30 games in her career... As a freshman, she scored four goals, good for third on the team, and recorded six assists, ranking second on the team, eighth in the conference and 12th among all NCAA freshmen... Scored game-winning goals against Sam Houston State (Sept. 16, 2013) and in the 89th minute against Houston (Oct. 18, 2013)... HONORS: 2013 American Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team.
Personal: Played at Plano West Senior High School under head coach Carley Phillips, who is an SMU women's soccer alumni... Helped lead Plano West to a state title in 2012... In high school, posted a 4.2 GPA as a member of the National Honors Society... Is one of three Barg sisters to have played Division I soccer. Her oldest sister, Courtney, won a national championship with Notre Dame in 2010 and her other sister, Kristen, played soccer at TCU.