Weather has not been kind recently to area high school sports programs. But with a steady rain falling Thursday night, the McCallie and Southeast Whitfield soccer teams were happy just to get a game in.
Southeast’s Raiders and the Blue Tornado battled to a 2-2 draw on McCallie’s turf field as part of the Baylor soccer tournament. It was supposed to be the Raiders’ ninth match but was instead their fourth, and for McCallie it was an anticipated season opener.
“We’ve only practiced on grass three times, so we haven’t been able to work everything we want to work,” said McCallie coach Chris Cushenbery. “It was just nice to be able to get a game in.”
It was also a debut for Cushenbery, who was an assistant coach for the Chattanooga Football Club for three years before taking over the Blue Tornado.
Southeast Whitfield did not let the lengthy bus trip deter it and scored within the first two minutes of the match with senior Ramiro Guerrero putting one right in the center of the net. The hosts settled in after allowing the early goal and started to build off possession.