McCallie soccer team earns shot at DII-AA title repeat
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / McCallie's Mikael Wallasvaara (8) picks up one of his three assists in the first 20 minutes of Wednesday's TSSAA Division II-AA state semifinal with a pass to teammate Alejandro Dominguez (21).
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — After a recent McCallie soccer practice ahead of the team’s trip to the TSSAA Spring Fling, junior midfielder Mikael Wallasvaara stuck around to work on his striking ability while joined on the field by his father.
The extra work quickly paid major dividends Wednesday, when the 6-foot-1 Wallasvaara generated three assists and a goal in the first 20 minutes of the Blue Tornado’s opening match of the Division II-AA state tournament, a 5-1 semifinal victory over previously unbeaten Ensworth at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex.
“My parents flew in last week from Finland to see me play, and getting to get on the field with my dad again for the first time in a long time made a difference,” Wallasvaara said. “This is by far one of the biggest games in my entire life so far. I told my parents last night that I was not feeling nervous. I was somehow very calm.
“When the whistle started, I just started balling out, and I wanted to play for the team and everybody. I think everybody did a great job showing that today, especially in the first 20 minutes.”
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / McCallie’s Ryan Rodriguez battles for the ball in Wednesday’s TSSAA Division II-AA semifinal victory over Ensworth in Murfreesboro.Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / McCallie sophomore Brooks Hilger dribbles the ball in Wednesday’s TSSAA Division II-AA semifinal victory over Ensworth in Murfreesboro.Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / McCallie soccer players, including Mikael Wallasvaara (8), celebrate after scoring the Blue Tornado’s fourth goal in the first half of Wednesday’s TSSAA Division II-AA semifinal victory over Ensworth in Murfreesboro.Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / McCallie’s Mikael Wallasvaara motions to an official after assisting a Blue Tornado goal in the first half of Wednesday’s 5-1 victory over Ensworth in a Division II-AA state semifinal in Murfreesboro.Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / McCallie’s Alejandro Dominguez scores past the Ensworth keeper in Wednesday’s 5-1 victory for the Blue Tornado in a Division II-AA state semifinal in Murfreesboro.Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / McCallie’s Alejandro Dominguez scores past the Ensworth keeper in Wednesday’s 5-1 victory for the Blue Tornado in a Division II-AA state semifinal in Murfreesboro.Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / McCallie freshman Finn Arnold takes a corner kick in the first half of Wednesday’s 5-1 victory over Ensworth in a TSSAA Division II-AA semifinal in Murfreesboro.Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / McCallie’s Mikael Wallasvaara (8) and Alejandro Dominguez (21) connect in the first half of Wednesday’s TSSAA Division II-AA state semifinal win over Ensworth at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex in Murfreesboro.Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / McCallie’s Mikael Wallasvaara (8) picks up one of his three assists in the first 20 minutes of Wednesday’s TSSAA Division II-AA state semifinal with a pass to teammate Alejandro Dominguez (21).
