Reese Rowlett has been steadfast in her starting role as a holding center midfielder for the Baylor School girls' soccer program.
Rowlett's decisive play on both halves of the field helped the Lady Red Raiders secure their 19th trip to a TSSAA state championship game as they defeated Nashville's Christ Presbyterian Academy 2-1 in overtime of a Division II-AA semifinal Wednesday at Chattanooga Christian School.
Not only did Rowlett shine in the lockdown defender role as she marked one of CPA's top playmakers, the versatile junior also provided the winning assist as she found sophomore Ayanna Hamler driving down the right side of the box, where Baylor's leading scorer this season took one touch before sending a left-footed shot through the keeper's legs from close range.
"Reese sits in the front of our back four and just wins everything," Baylor coach Curtis Blair said. "She is very good in the air and at distribution. I was really proud of her and Emily Betterton for the job they did dealing with CPA's top two playmakers. They stepped up and helped us advance to the finals. They put the team before themselves, which was awesome to see."
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Hamler's 25th goal of the season came on her match-high sixth shot of the semifinal in the 83rd minute, during the first of two 10-minute overtime periods. After scoring 35-plus goals last season for Arts & Sciences, Hamler has delivered the biggest goal of Baylor's season to this point.
The star forward has fit right in with her new team that has eight seniors who are set to play college soccer.
"Ayanna is always in the right place at the right time," said Rowlett, whose team had a combined 30-9 advantage on shots and corner kicks against CPA (12-3-1). "She has been an amazing contributor this year and never stops working even when things haven't gone her way. She and everyone on our team were locked in going into overtime. Now our goal is to three-peat as state champions."
Baylor (18-2-1) and Knoxville Webb (15-1-1) will meet in the title match for the second year in a row, with Thursday's championship showdown set for 7 p.m. at Finley Stadium. The teams have split their matchups this season, with the Lady Spartans winning 2-0 in the regular season, while the Lady Red Raiders beat them 2-0 in the region championship game.
Rowlett and Co. hope they can provide the program its second run of three straight state titles, joining the group that won four in a row for Baylor from 2001 to 2004. The program won its 11th state title last season with a 2-0 win over Knox Webb.
Senior center back Zoe Misenhimer provided Baylor's opening score of Wednesday's semifinal just 39 seconds in as she drilled a penalty kick for her sixth goal of the season. CPA (12-3-1) pulled even in the 26th minute off a penalty kick by Livi Langan.
The Lady Red Raiders have outscored opponents 70-14 this season and will need an eighth straight win to secure state title No. 12 for the program.
Baylor girls' soccer program one win from third straight state title | Chattanooga Times Free Press
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