Rachel Payne of Baylor, left, and Sarah Corum of GPS give chase to the ball during their soccer match on Sept. 30 at GPS. Payne and the Lady Red Raiders host Pope John Paul II in the first round of the state playoffs.Soccer TourneysSoccer region tournament schedule today:3-A/AA SemifinalsGrace Academy (12-5) at Hixson (12-6), 5:30East Ridge (6-8-2) at Boyd-Buchanan (11-5-2), 74-A/AA SemifinalsChattanooga Christian (9-5-4) at Central Magnet (19-0), 6Merrol Hyde (10-7-2) at Notre Dame (7-5-4), 73-AAA SemifinalsStone Memorial (8-3-3) at East Hamilton (12-3-2), 7McMinn County (14-2-2) at Cookeville (12-4-2), 8Division II-AA State First RoundPope John Paul II at Baylor, 7
Baylor’s Rachel Payne is the only senior on a soccer team that has been shorthanded at times because of injuries but is two wins away from the Division II-AA state final four.At times they’ve been the few, but they’ve always been proud.
They’re the Baylor School girls’ soccer team.
The Lady Red Raiders have combined a lack of depth with a lot of injuries, which have at times decimated their numbers during the 2014 season. They have played some matches with 12 players, started some with no reserves and on numerous occasions been left with 10 players during a match.
Yet despite having numbers resembling a high school varsity basketball team, they’re two matches away from the state tournament.