photo by Greg Davick
The Few. The Proud. The Baylor Girls Soccer Team.
Playing with only one sub, an all-state basketball player turned goalkeeper and a disciplined defense, the Baylor girls soccer team battled host GPS to a scoreless tie Tuesday in a TSSAA D-II East/Middle Region match.
GPS was the heavy favorite coming into the match with eight wins (now 8-1-2, 3-0-1), while Baylor (now 3-8-3, 1-1-2) had eight losses.
“We played the first 20 minutes with a lot of energy and had some scoring chances (off corner kicks) and then defended well and held on the final 20 minutes to gain the tie,” said Baylor coach Curtis Blair.
“The difference in tonight’s match and earlier matches is that we have had the tendency on defense to break down in the final 20 minutes and allow opponents to score and beat us, but not tonight.”
GPS had two excellent scoring chances in the first half as Keyle Snyder’s shot in the 27th minute hit the cross bar and bounded away, while Baylor goalkeeper Kaleigh Clemons made an excellent stop of Akia Harris’ shot from 15 yards out to the near post with five minutes prior to halftime.
Coach Blair pointed to Clemons (six saves), and the four defenders – Lauren King, Morgan McDonald, Lili Oren and Rachel Paty – as the keys to the win.
“I am very pleased with the way the girls listened in practice on Monday as we set our game plan. They have been so coachable.”
In the second half, the GPS keeper Savannah Williams had a save in the 61st minute on a Baylor free kick from 25 yards out, followed by the Bruiser defense able to withstand a pair of consecutive Baylor corner kicks near the 66th minute mark.
“Give Baylor credit as they had to play with defense in mind and they worked hard the entire match,” said GPS coach Patrick Winecroff.
“We have been rolling through the season and you have to know that teams will put lots of players back so we must figure how to get through those lines of defense and score.”
GPS led in shots on goal at 9-2 and overall shots at 20-4.
“It’s better to have this hiccup now rather than in the post season.”
Playing With 10: with 20 minutes remaining in the match, Baylor’s Rachel Payne collided with GPS players and had to leave the match … a short time later McKenna Avitable also left the match due to an injury leaving Baylor with 10 players for about two minutes after which Payne return to action.
GPS 0, Baylor 0
Baylor 0 – 0 – 0
GPS 0 – 0 – 0
Shots on Goal: GPS (9) Baylor (2)
Saves: GPS (Savannah Williams, 2( Baylor (Kaleigh Clemons, 6)
Yellow cards: Baylor coach Curtis Blair; GPS - #7 Lindsay Rufolo
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net