"The McCallie-Baylor soccer rivalry is different than any other. There is something about this match when the players walk on the field and the fans are into it, it make for a great environment."
McCallie soccer coach Tony Meyers
On a late spring, sun-splashed Friday evening, host McCallie and Baylor played what so many have come to expect in the long standing soccer rivalry.
A hard-nosed 80 minutes of entertaining, well executed soccer with tonight's verdict a 0-0 tie as players from both sides shook hands at the conclusion knowing a re-match could come in the D-II playoffs.
McCallie knew it had to play good defense - which it did - and look for opportunities to counter attack - which it had. Baylor needed to play straight ahead soccer and with good speed put the ball in the box which it did.
Baylor did just that - control the ball for the majority of the first half - with four corner kicks (none for McCallie) and a nice header by Hunter Tyler from 10 yards out but saved by McGregor in the seventh minute.
But with credit due the goalkeepers Colin Brewer (Baylor) and Ryan McGregor (McCallie) neither team could finish.
In the first seven minutes of the second half, both teams had shots stopped by excellent goalie play.
Baylor's Austin Maize hit a shot from 20 yards out only to be turned away by a diving McGregor in the 47th minute, while Brewer made a diving save of his own off a header less than a minute later.
In the 71st minute, McCallie's Timi Coker beat Brewer in the box off a counter, but his shot to an open net hit the cross bar and the Baylor defense was able to clear the ball from harms way.
"This was a typical region game and always a tough one for both teams," said Baylor coach Curtis Blair. "But when the intensity increased in the second half we lost our composure (two yellow cards), instead of staying calm and keeping control of the ball."
McCallie coach Tony Meyers stated, "we know one another so well that many times it comes down to capitalizing on mistakes.
"It's uncanny that Curtis and I know what the other one is going to do in almost every situation because we know the strengths and weaknesses and personnel on both sides."
It's a chess match on grass, with several hundred cheering for one great shot in the back of the net for soccer's version of check mate.
McCallie 0, Baylor 0
Baylor 0 - 0 -- 0
McC 0 - 0 -- 0
Baylor (11-3-1, 2-1-1); McCallie (7-3-3, 2-1-3)
Stats:
Goals None
Shots: McCallie, 9-7
Saves: Baylor, 6-2
Corner Kicks: Baylor, 6-2
Hand Balls: None
Fouls: Baylor 15-12
Free Kicks: McCallie 16-11
Offsides: Baylor, 2-0
Yellow Cards: Baylor - Lucas Baker, Rafael Gaglianone; McCallie - Timi Coker
Goal Keepers: Baylor - Colin Brewer .. McCallie - Ryan McGregor
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@Comcast.net