Baker goal keeper Bjorn Boyer leaped in the air to deny a potential goal against Grant Union Saturday. (Baker City Herald photograph by Kathy Orr).

By GERRY STEELE

Of the Baker City Herald

Baker split a pair of soccer matches Friday and Saturday at the Baker Sports Complex.

Friday, the Bulldogs overcame a physical Riverside squad for 1-0 non-league win. On Saturday, Grant Union came away with a 5-2 Eastern Oregon League victory.

The Riverside match saw three yellow cards issued for rough play, and more could have been called.

Baker coach Bryan Tweit said according to the rule book several other yellow cards should have been issued, and, possibly, even a red card or two (automatic ejection.)

The rule book is pretty clear about some of the things that happened, Tweit said. But, the officials working the game interpreted things otherwise.

Tweit said he was pleased with the Bulldogs play against the Pirates, a team Baker had not defeated in several other meetings this season.

He noted that Corey Nielsen and Seth Payton did an extraordinary job of directing and playing defense and the midfield.

Then, later in the game, Tweit pulled Payton up to the front line with forwards Seth Pownall and Dayne Siex to add stronger offensive punch.

Tweit said that group, as well as keeper Bjorn Boyer, and defenders and midfielders Kenyon Damschen, Cale Marcum, Jace Wheeler, Talen Jayo, Colin Kuehl, and Alex Mason played well.

Everybody did their job. They executed the game plan flawlessly, Tweit said.

Bjorn didnt make many mistakes, he said.

That, despite the fact that Riverside hammered him in goal all afternoon.

They hit him at least five times after he had possession of the ball. Each time they could have been carded, Tweit said.

The teams battled to a scoreless first half. Pownall and Siex each had a couple of runs on goal in the half.

Baker got the days only goal in the 70th minute when Pownall stole a Riverside outlet pass near the top of the penalty arch and hammered the shot home.

Things worked out differently against Grant Union on Saturday.

Baker scored first in the early going. Pownall made a run down the left side, beat his defender and found Siex in front of an open net. Siex easily tapped home the kick for a 1-0 lead.

But, Grant Union answered with two goals to take a 2-1 halftime edge. Boyer appeared to be screened on both kicks.

Siex scored his second goal to tie the game at 2-2 early in the second half. Siex stole a Prospector pass and fired home a missile.

That was the Bulldogs last offensive plus. Grant Union scored three unanswered goals, including one on a penalty kick, to salt the win away.

Baker travels to Ontario today for another EOL match.