Baylor coach Jimmy Weekley wasn’t overly surprised that his soccer team was able to advance to tonight’s Division II-AA state championship game.
The Lady Red Raiders did catch him off guard in how they did it, however, considering the foe.
They scored two goals in each half to defeat Battle Ground Academy 4-0 at GPS for a shot at St. Agnes tonight at 7 in a repeat of the 2009 state title game. The Lady Stars won that match 1-0.
Weekley noted that most of his battles against BGA and coach Jan Morrissey end up in with one-goal differentials, so the four-goal outburst was a surprise.
Baylor (16-0-2) won the regular-season meeting 1-0 on a Peyton Thomas goal with less than four minutes remaining. Mary Ellen Williams led the offensive charge Thursday night with a goal and an assist.
“The girls worked hard to get here,” Weekley said.
BGA came out fired up and – led by the speed up top of Cara Ledman – had some solid chances early, including a shot by the junior that Baylor keeper Katherine Rodgers saved by ranging to her left and diving.
Rodgers finished with four saves, while the defense shut down a lot of opportunities before they could reach the keeper.
“BGA is very well-coached; they had a good game plan and a lot of energy,” Weekley said. “They had some good shot attempts; Katherine made some good saves on the ball.
“Defensively, I thought we kept our shape and kept the ball in front.”
A handball in the box called against BGA (9-10) gave Baylor a penalty-kick opportunity, and Thomas scored for a 1-0 lead 18 minutes in.
A minute and half later, Williams drove past a BGA defender and crossed the ball into Marci Carter, who finished a shot for a two-goal edge.
Ten minutes into the second half – in seemingly a mirror image of the second goal – Chloe Brackett passed to Williams, whose goal made it 3-0. Kelly Pannell finished off the scoring on a free kick with 17:53 remaining in the game.
“I’m proud of our girls; we’re now in a place where anything can happen,” Weekley said. “We’ve got a tough opponent and we’re going to have to play our best to win tomorrow.”
* St. Agnes 2, Pope John Paul II 1: Camilla Buoni had two first-half goals, and the Lady Stars (13-2-2) were able to hold off the Lady Knights for a spot in the final. University of Kentucky commitment Cailin Harris had the goal for Pope John Paul II (15-4-1).
Division II-AA State Tournament
At GPS
BAYLOR 4, BATTLE GROUND ACADEMY 0
Halftime score: 2-0. Goals: Peyton Thomas, Marci Carter, Mary Ellen Williams, Kelly Pannell. Assists: Williams, Chloe Brackett. Shots: Baylor, 12-4. Saves: Katherine Rodgers 4 (Bay); Megan Grindstaff 2 (BGA). Records: Baylor 16-0-2; BGA 9-10.