The Chattanooga area’s soccer presence continues to grow, and this time the addition is over the border in Georgia. The Chattanooga Red Wolves Soccer Club, a USL League One member set to begin play in 2019, announced Friday that it will be affiliated with a USL League Two team in Dalton that will also make its debut next year. League Two is a developmental level for the United Soccer League, and the Georgia club will split its home matches at a site in Dalton to be determined and Chattanooga Christian School’s Stanton Field, where the Red Wolves will play next season before moving to a planned 5,500-seat soccer-specific stadium in 2020. “USL League Two defines the ‘Path2Pro,'” Red Wolves owner Bob Martino said in a post on the team’s website. “The transition from youth soccer to a professional career has been a route lacking a clear map, and having League Two teams connecting top youth on one side and professional soccer on the other provides a much-needed conduit.” Dalton will compete in the Deep South Division, which currently has seven other teams. Details on the Dalton team, including coaches and player signings, will be announced later. “Identifying local talent and elevating players to the next level is something important to the overall vision of the Red Wolves Soccer Club,” Red Wolves coach and technical director Tim Hankinson said in the post. “A clear path for a professional playing career will now be a reality in our community.”
Basketball
» Will Crumly had 16 points and 13 assists Friday night as the Covenant men lost 77-64 to event host Mary Hardin-Baylor at the Cru Classic in Belton, Texas. No other player scored in double figures for the Division III Scots (5-4), who had won five straight regular-season games but dropped their previous outing, an exhibition against Division I Lipscomb in Nashville. James Mitchell was second for Covenant with nine points, and three Scots scored eight, including Bailey Spragg, who had eight assists. Sam Moore scored 17 to lead the Cru (12-1), who led 40-29 at halftime.
» Covenant’s Lady Scots also lost Friday night in the Lone Star State, falling 76-48 to the University of Texas at Dallas in the UT Dallas Classic. Taylor Robinson had 13 points and Joanna Smith seven rebounds to lead Covenant (2-8), which trailed 19-11, 33-25 and 58-39 at the quarter breaks. The Comets (8-3), led by Raenett Hughes’ 19 points, are ranked 19th in the WBCA poll and 23rd in the D3hoops.com poll.