Jump to content

BGA vs Baylor


chasanooga
 Share

Recommended Posts

It certainly was a beautiful day for soccer in Chattanooga. BGA vs Baylor with Baylor trying to avenge their only loss of the year to BGA 3-1 just last weekend. Caroline Scales puts Baylor on the board first with a nice lifted shot over Jessica Smith's head to go up 1-0, 9 minutes into the half. With 6:26 left in the half a Baylor forward and a BGA defender/mid fielder go down in a heap. There looks like some extra curricular activity on the part of both girls and some major pushing going on which results in a red card for each player. The referee sends them both to the sidelines and the game goes on with each team down a player. Baylor seems to have the better of it for the remainder of the half as the teams go into half 1-0. Both teams come out in the second half trying to get some offense going but to no avail. At the 21 minute mark a BGA girl sends a shot on goal to be blocked by a Baylor player at or around the 18. The ball is a rifle shot and catches the Baylor defender with an outstretched hand. Now here is where this becomes controversial. The referee calls hand ball in the box and Susannah Dennis takes the kick and buries the ball in the back of the net to tie the score 1-1. Now I will leave up to the rules interpretation to tell me whether or not this should have been a PK or not. As I saw it the Baylor girl made no effort to hit/ divert the kicked ball. The ball was hit so hard it hit her outstretched hand and she had no chance to move her hand out of the way. Point of contention # 2, the player was I thought on the box line or I thought slightly out of the box, (obviously the ref thought otherwise) I have seen referees place the ball just outside the box sometimes and allow a free kick vs a pk when it seems to be "incidental contact". I will be interested in other people's posts regarding this call. Two minutes later a foul was called on a Baylor defender at the 35 and Susannah Dennis comes up to take the free kick. She hits a ball that never seems to get any air but is a rocket that catches the net just inside the left post. With the distance this ball had to travel the only thing I can surmise was that Taylor Davidson was screened on the play. With that goal BGA goes up 2-1 with 19 minutes to go in the game. Caroline Scales gets hurt at the 12 minute mark and she has to be taken off the field. Baylor is trying its hardest to create some scoring opportunities and does so at the 8 minute mark when Mary Shelton Bryant hits a beautiful ball on a free kick on goal with 2 or 3 Baylor player following the shot only to see Jessica come up with an amazing save. The Baylor players had obscured the goal at it appeared it was going to find the back of the net. Baylor is trying desperatley to create some more scoring chance and with 3 1/2 minutes to go in the game Kamesha Woodfine gets the ball at approximately the 8 and a few paces to the side of the post and hits a half volley to the far post that seems destined to find the back of the net. But low and behold Jessica Smith leaps into the air and goes horizontal to make the most incredible save I have ever seen in my life! I hope someone has video of this play (someone post this video please) as it is truly one of the greatest saves imaginable. It appeared she was 2 to 3 feet off the gound! Her hands and her feet were at the same elevation as she grabs the ball with two hands and secures the ball before she hits the ground. Baylor tries to muster a few more runs but to no avail as BGA holds on for the win. It is tough to lose close games of such magnitude but Baylor can be proud of their season and their girls efforts today. Congrats to BGA on winning State.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It certainly was a beautiful day for soccer in Chattanooga. BGA vs Baylor with Baylor trying to avenge their only loss of the year to BGA 3-1 just last weekend. Caroline Scales puts Baylor on the board first with a nice lifted shot over Jessica Smith's head to go up 1-0, 9 minutes into the half. With 6:26 left in the half a Baylor forward and a BGA defender/mid fielder go down in a heap. There looks like some extra curricular activity on the part of both girls and some major pushing going on which results in a red card for each player. The referee sends them both to the sidelines and the game goes on with each team down a player. Baylor seems to have the better of it for the remainder of the half as the teams go into half 1-0. Both teams come out in the second half trying to get some offense going but to no avail. At the 21 minute mark a BGA girl sends a shot on goal to be blocked by a Baylor player at or around the 18. The ball is a rifle shot and catches the Baylor defender with an outstretched hand. Now here is where this becomes controversial. The referee calls hand ball in the box and Susannah Dennis takes the kick and buries the ball in the back of the net to tie the score 1-1. Now I will leave up to the rules interpretation to tell me whether or not this should have been a PK or not. As I saw it the Baylor girl made no effort to hit/ divert the kicked ball. The ball was hit so hard it hit her outstretched hand and she had no chance to move her hand out of the way. Point of contention # 2, the player was I thought on the box line or I thought slightly out of the box, (obviously the ref thought otherwise) I have seen referees place the ball just outside the box sometimes and allow a free kick vs a pk when it seems to be "incidental contact". I will be interested in other people's posts regarding this call. Two minutes later a foul was called on a Baylor defender at the 35 and Susannah Dennis comes up to take the free kick. She hits a ball that never seems to get any air but is a rocket that catches the net just inside the left post. With the distance this ball had to travel the only thing I can surmise was that Taylor Davidson was screened on the play. With that goal BGA goes up 2-1 with 19 minutes to go in the game. Caroline Scales gets hurt at the 12 minute mark and she has to be taken off the field. Baylor is trying its hardest to create some scoring opportunities and does so at the 8 minute mark when Mary Shelton Bryant hits a beautiful ball on a free kick on goal with 2 or 3 Baylor player following the shot only to see Jessica come up with an amazing save. The Baylor players had obscured the goal at it appeared it was going to find the back of the net. Baylor is trying desperatley to create some more scoring chance and with 3 1/2 minutes to go in the game Kamesha Woodfine gets the ball at approximately the 8 and a few paces to the side of the post and hits a half volley to the far post that seems destined to find the back of the net. But low and behold Jessica Smith leaps into the air and goes horizontal to make the most incredible save I have ever seen in my life! I hope someone has video of this play (someone post this video please) as it is truly one of the greatest saves imaginable. It appeared she was 2 to 3 feet off the gound! Her hands and her feet were at the same elevation as she grabs the ball with two hands and secures the ball before she hits the ground. Baylor tries to muster a few more runs but to no avail as BGA holds on for the win. It is tough to lose close games of such magnitude but Baylor can be proud of their season and their girls efforts today. Congrats to BGA on winning State.

 

 

Congrats. to BGA on a fantastic season.

 

Also, like Chasanooga said, if anyone has video of Jessica Smith's save around the 77 minute mark, PLEASE post it. It was absolutly phenominal. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

 

 

GO BGA WILDCATS!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was at the match and have not dog in the hunt, and I will say this:

 

The call was a bad call. 1) The Baylor player was, indeed, outside the box. 2) Her arms were straight down - the ball hit her arm as her arm was extended straight down and at her waist. The ball was hit hard enough that she did not have time to react and bring her arm up. It was a bad call, period. How disappointing that an official who is supposed to be invisible (in terms of having a direct effect on the outcome of the match) ends up playing such a pivotal role in the outcome of the match. The PK changed the whole complexion of the match - a fellow colleague (seating at the match with me) and I were commenting about how surprised we were with how much Baylor was controlling and dictating play for the entire match. Aside from a little second half spurt at the very beginning of the half (to be expected), Baylor was in control of the match and only after the PK did it become a match that went back and forth.

 

The save from the BGA keeper was phenomenal, though. I would love to see it again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was at the match and have not dog in the hunt, and I will say this:

 

The call was a bad call. 1) The Baylor player was, indeed, outside the box. 2) Her arms were straight down - the ball hit her arm as her arm was extended straight down and at her waist. The ball was hit hard enough that she did not have time to react and bring her arm up. It was a bad call, period. How disappointing that an official who is supposed to be invisible (in terms of having a direct effect on the outcome of the match) ends up playing such a pivotal role in the outcome of the match. The PK changed the whole complexion of the match - a fellow colleague (seating at the match with me) and I were commenting about how surprised we were with how much Baylor was controlling and dictating play for the entire match. Aside from a little second half spurt at the very beginning of the half (to be expected), Baylor was in control of the match and only after the PK did it become a match that went back and forth.

 

The save from the BGA keeper was phenomenal, though. I would love to see it again.

 

 

Tape of the game shows that she was clearly in the box. Congratulations to both sides for great seasons.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

As center referee I wouldn't normally post a response here, but as I retired from high school officiating with this match and have returned to civilian life, I don't see the harm of answering.

 

I have been provided a tape of this very exciting and skillful match (and had a chance to watch that amazing save by the BGA keeper several times). Referees know the angle of sight into play is critical-- the camera for this tape was located at the top of the stands about ten yards to the right of the halfway line as you look down on the field. On the penalty the tape shows in slow motion exactly what I saw: the ball is struck at pace by the BGA player and the Baylor defender just inside the penalty area raises her lower arm (upper arm does not move), rotates her hand toward the ball, and arrests its flight with her open palm. There was no question that it was 'hand to ball', as we say. If there was any doubt the Baylor defender erased it by protesting to me, "Ref, I was just protecting my face!"

The ball, needless to say, was nowhere near her face and was not in fact going to touch her until she handled it.

 

So what was going on? A cynical attempt to stop a shot and pass it off as accidental? I very much doubt it. It was, I would guess, pure instinct. The ball is struck very hard, seems to be coming right at you, you instinctively raise your hand to fend it off. High school rules require that a penalty be given in any such circumstance, but most of us will let it go as trivial if the ball's flight will be arrested anyway by striking your nose, chest, lower abdomen, etc. This is indeed just protecting yourself. Unfortunately in this case the ball was going just past the defender and her upraised hand caught it.

 

This play would have been very difficult to pick up from the stands as the play took place in an instant and the defender's hand was the one away from the stands. Watching the tape from the camera's position in the stands without slow motion gives a good idea why a spectator would think that the ball merely struck a defender's motionless hand.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As center referee I wouldn't normally post a response here, but as I retired from high school officiating with this match and have returned to civilian life, I don't see the harm of answering.

 

I have been provided a tape of this very exciting and skillful match (and had a chance to watch that amazing save by the BGA keeper several times). Referees know the angle of sight into play is critical-- the camera for this tape was located at the top of the stands about ten yards to the right of the halfway line as you look down on the field. On the penalty the tape shows in slow motion exactly what I saw: the ball is struck at pace by the BGA player and the Baylor defender just inside the penalty area raises her lower arm (upper arm does not move), rotates her hand toward the ball, and arrests its flight with her open palm. There was no question that it was 'hand to ball', as we say. If there was any doubt the Baylor defender erased it by protesting to me, "Ref, I was just protecting my face!"

The ball, needless to say, was nowhere near her face and was not in fact going to touch her until she handled it.

 

So what was going on? A cynical attempt to stop a shot and pass it off as accidental? I very much doubt it. It was, I would guess, pure instinct. The ball is struck very hard, seems to be coming right at you, you instinctively raise your hand to fend it off. High school rules require that a penalty be given in any such circumstance, but most of us will let it go as trivial if the ball's flight will be arrested anyway by striking your nose, chest, lower abdomen, etc. This is indeed just protecting yourself. Unfortunately in this case the ball was going just past the defender and her upraised hand caught it.

 

This play would have been very difficult to pick up from the stands as the play took place in an instant and the defender's hand was the one away from the stands. Watching the tape from the camera's position in the stands without slow motion gives a good idea why a spectator would think that the ball merely struck a defender's motionless hand.

 

 

 

Where did you get the tape from? The TSSAA no longer tape state championship games. Did BGA or Baylor provide you a tape? I know the BGA coach was very critical of you in the paper and she won. I have not heard any quotes from the Baylor coach. Also as a ref. I thought you were positioned at an angle where there was no way you could have seen it hit the girl from Baylor. By the way the ball bounced back toward mid field it is hard to believe that it hit her in the hand. The shot was about chest high. I think it is interesting that you see the need to defend yourself which means there is doubt you made the right call. If you were to sit down with both coaches and watch that particular play you would probably get different opinions of what should be called. If you did watch the tape which I doubt you did, you would never admit to being wrong. Overall it was not a well officiated game. You went from letting them play to calling it tight. Which means you were inconsistent in how were refereeing the game. I feel for you because I know there is a lot if pressure involved in refereeing state championship games and I feel you had too much of an impact on that game.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recent Posts

    • He resigned smh, and have you ever heard of charged but not convicted. Some people in this county baffle me with their need to slander others. Have you asked any of the 30+ parents that signed a petition to get him reinstated at the board meeting this week how they feel about this? Just let it play out, at the end of the day the only people that will bring TC back are the ones that know what its about at its core.    People hate losing and they aren't used to it at TC. I for 1, and I'm sure others too, understand having a dip in talent and not being able to compete for a state title every year. But in the past, TC teams have outworked more talented teams, they didn't continuously lose the turnover battle, they didn't commit 8+ penalties in several games each season, and I believe several of the folks in town that want Blake out feel as if he is neglecting the history of the program. This is from a source that used to be extremely close to the program (not me lol), Blake gets out of school midday and the players show up and there is no practice plan or itinerary.  I also understand those that are on team Blake, when he has loads of talent, he wins. He does know football and he is a tremendous DC, and if the rumors are true then he will do great things. As for the board member issue, it is what it is, everyone that's true to the county know that and nothing has changed. I agree though that they should strive to make the facilities as good as we can. And as far as potential candidates, I agree there is very few options. West, Vetetoe (yes I know), and couple others that could have some interest. Whatever happens is massive for the program during a pivotal time before the next big wave of stars make their way through. 
    • McKenzie had no trouble with Huntingdon.  
    • Has BA landed any cornfed cowboys to block up front?
    • Yea I agree I will say tho I was a big “ v “ fan if an  opening ever did happen I think it would’ve been good to see him have a shot coming from a power house like Oakland. I’m sure he’s learned a lot from Kevin.  I bet he would bring a really good offense scheme IMO But after all this I just dunno anymore.  Whatever happens with the rumors an such if it did come to and opening I think this messes it all up.  The board members dreams are slowly slipping away now. I haven’t lived there for awhile I just hear what I hear, but my question is would there be any good potential candidates?? That’s why I don’t understand why people want b s out so bad who else could do any better ?? IMO there’s nothing attractive about it? As I stated earlier I went to the last game last year and taking a leak in a porta Potty is pretty sad and still nothing being done they say .. 
    • I have a sophomore that can do 177 (preferred) or 192. Sent you an email.
×
  • Create New...