Although it didn’t officially sink in until the scoreboard’s timer read all zeros, Baylor sophomore goalkeeper Zach Ubamadu had already started celebrating his team’s 2-0 victory over McCallie. With the ball on the other end of the field, he had started circling around the keeper box, clapping his hands and yelling “Let’s Go!”
On an evening where the Red Raiders’ offense wasn’t the cleanest and their goals not the prettiest, Ubamadu and the defense led the way.
It had been a span of 24 matches – since March 11, 2019 – since the top-ranked Blue Tornado had been shut out of a match, with McCallie winning that season’s Division II-AA state championship before last season was canceled due to COVID-19. That it was Baylor that ended this particular streak was a great moment for the team.
“This win means everything,” said Ubamadu, who just returned Friday from a bone bruise in his right leg that had him out for a week and was noticeably limping at times. “This was a great team win. I mean, do you see all the fans that came out? It just feels amazing. This is what Baylor is about.”
Ubamadu didn’t return to practice until Thursday, which consisted of a quick workout with Baylor assistant (and current Chattanooga Red Wolves goalkeeper) Tim Trilk.