Undefeated Baylor Wins Division II-AA State Soccer Championship

The Baylor Red Raider girls soccer team ended their season undefeated and holding the Division II-AA state championship hardware after beating Briarcrest in penalty kicks Friday night in Murfreesboro. 

The game was tied at 1-1 through the second half and overtime after both teams scored goals in the first half. Baylor missed their first penalty kick but then hit four straight.   .  

In regulation, Baylor struck first on a Grace Spurling goal in the ninth minute.  Briarcrest answered with a goal in the 26th minute by Peyton Moore. That is when the real battle began as both teams pushed forward through wind and rain trying to score the game winner through four overtime periods.

Briarcrest hit the crossbar and post twice late in the game but could not score.  Baylor also had several opportunities. Official stats had Briarcrest with six shots on goal and Baylor with five. 

Baylor goalkeeper, Peyton Randolph came out of the game with an injury late leaving Shannon Urey to tend the goal. Urey made two breakaway saves in the second half and overtime.  

In penalty kicks, Baylor rebounded from a first shot miss and made the next four to earn the win Avery Davis, Lainee Bohannon, Ara Rhodes and Katelyn Smith all converted on their penalty kicks.  Briarcrest missed on its last two attempts. 

This is the first girls championship for Baylor head coach Curtis Blair who joined in the muddy pile up after winning in PKs.

"This group was special," Blair said. "We talked about this in July at camp. We talked about three things, first character and second the process. The third on was results and we knew if we committed to the first two, the third would come. We never talked about wins and losses. I told them after the game that there are not many teams that can say we did not lose a game all season. I am not sure we have even processed that yet."  

Blair was pleased to see his team battle and gave a lot of credit to Briarcrest.

"When you score first it gives you confidence you can win," Blair said. "I have to give Briarcrest credit.  Some teams try to sit in back and defend and both teams tried to win it. When they got their goal we didn't not put our heads down. This team has done that all year. They have played from behind and we did it against Father Ryan."

Back up keeper Shannon Urey came in late in the second half after starting keeper Peyton Randolph got hurt. Urey didn't miss a beat in the goal and made a save in pks. 

"I give credit to our goal keeper coach," Blair said. "She had our back up keepers ready." 

Two of Baylor's penalty kicks were scored by seniors Lainee Bohannon and Katelyn Smith who have battled injuries this season.  

"When your at that point," Blair said."We told them to just pick a  spot and put it there. We had a good feeling Shannon was going to make a save. Lainee and Katelyn are seniors who didn't get to play much because of injuries but we knew we could depend on them. "