It has become tradition for the Baker University men’s soccer team to huddle up and chant “Baker ’till I die” in a rowdy, but confident manner before each of their games.
This tradition held true and the team was able to yell the chant before its 6-0 shutout victory over Culver-Stockton College Saturday and then again when the Wildcats defeated the No. 12 Missouri Valley College Tuesday.
While the Wildcats were able to claim wins in their final two regular season games at Liston Stadium, that feeling of glory was bittersweet for those team members playing in some of their final moments of action on their home turf.
Baker honored 11 seniors on Saturday, including Brendan Allen, Richard Klein, Ethan Bauer, Nick Aguilar, Donny George, Odaine Sinclair, Jose Baquierzo, Nate Byarlay, Laeth Hamil, Josh Rydberg, and Sean McAlister.
Allen spent the full 90 minutes in the goal for the Wildcats, but was not forced to record any saves on the night as his teammates were busy attacking Culver-Stockton’s defense and keeper instead.
Five of the six goals were scored in the second half of the game. Aguilar and Sinclair were each able to pick up goals in front of their senior night crowd.
McAlister recorded an assist on the final goal of the game to add to the seniors’ accomplishments on the night.
Byarlay and Bauer would find their time to shine in the intense Heart of America Athletic Conference matchup to upset Missouri Valley.
Byarlay, a defender for the Wildcats, connected on a pass from Bauer in the 30th minute of the game, heading the ball into the back of the net to give Baker the 1-0 advantage in the first half.
Missouri Valley came out fighting in the second half and scored within just six minutes of play.
The teams battled back and forth for the remaining 39 minutes of regulation, both unable to break the tie, sending the game into overtime.
Just before overtime began, junior Andy Griffin suggested to the huddled and anxious team, “Let’s just go out there and finish the game in the very first minute.”
His words instilled a confidence in the team as they had seconds to spare in that first minute Griffin spoke of when Bauer scored the game-winning goal for the ‘Cats.
Bauer’s goal was his second of the season and sent the whole team diving into a celebratory dog pile in the corner of the stadium while the Vikings were left lying on the field in shock.
The Wildcats then shared the exuberance with their fellow fans as they huddled in front of the student section to jump and shout the traditional chant once again.
While these may be some of the final moments the seniors will spend with their team, the excitement and and togetherness they display is a sure sign that they will indeed be Baker ’till they die.
