For just the second time all season, the Baylor girls’ soccer team found itself in need of a comeback.

The Lady Red Raiders couldn’t have picked a more dangerous time to play from behind.

With its season on the line at home Saturday afternoon in the Division II Class AA quarterfinals, Baylor gave up a goal to Brentwood Academy early in the second period. After 10 nerve-racking minutes for the Lady Raiders, they then erupted for two goals in less than a minute and went on to a 6-1 victory and a spot in the state final four.

“The last time we were down a goal was in our first game of the season,” Baylor coach Jimmy Weekley said. “We responded very well to that, but there obviously wasn’t this kind of pressure. I was a little worried, because I saw a couple of people with their heads down, but we just tried to keep encouraging them.”

Baylor (17-0-1) had a few scoring chances in the first half Saturday but didn’t necessarily look like a team with state-title aspirations. Brentwood Academy took advantage 2:18 into the second period, sliding a shot past Baylor keeper Taylor Davidson into the left corner of the net.

“I think there were some nerves,” Weekley said. “In the first half, the girls looked like they were just going through the motions. There was no emotion or passion. When they scored, I think that woke us up, and then we decided to play.”

Weekley credited Cydney Parkes, Sarah Gawthrop and Caroline Scales for sparking the team after the Lady Eagles’ goal, and their work paid off in the 52nd minute. Forward Kemesha Woodfine took control of a ball inside the box and raced ahead of the Brentwood Academy defense for the equalizing goal.

“Their defense didn’t have good control, so I took advantage,” Woodfine said. “I just focused, recognizing that this could be it. I knew this one goal could change the game, so I finished it.”

The Lady Red Raiders kept up their pressure, and before another minute had passed, Woodfine sent a ball to McKenzie Thomas, who placed it in the upper left corner to give her team a 2-1 lead. Christina Groves added to it when she scored on a ball from Carissa Sanchez with 11:13 on the clock, and Woodfine made it 4-1 with her second goal about six minutes later.

Baylor added to its lead with stoppage-time scores from Mary Ellen Williams and Chloe Brackett, but Woodfine and her teammates hope to start their scoring earlier during next week’s state tournament.

“This definitely made us realize that we can’t wait until we get down to start playing,” she said. “As we progress, the teams are getting harder, and we might not be able to pull this off again. We’re happy to get this win, but it’s definitely a lesson for us.”

Top-ranked Baylor will join Briarcrest Christian, Pope John Paul II and Father Ryan in the state final four Thursday at GPS. The host Bruisers ended their season Saturday with a shootout loss to Briarcrest.

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