Lady Pioneers face top teams for preseason tests
WCHS girls soccer coach Alan Brownyard doesn’t kid around when it comes to finding preseason tests for his team.
The Lady Pioneers faced a pair of state powers Saturday at Pistole Park, as they squared off against Baylor, Chattanooga Christian and Knoxville West in the Preseason Jam.
By the end of the long, hot day, the Lady Pioneers came away with every possible result — a 2-0 loss to Baylor, a 1-0 win over West, and a scoreless tie against CCS.
Baylor comes into this season as the defending Division II state champion, while Chattanooga Christian was a state tournament participant in Class A-AA a year ago.
While Knoxville West didn’t reach those lofty heights last season, they have always provided a strong test for the Lady Pioneers.
“In scrimmages, you’re not that concerned with winning or losing,” Brownyard said. “You just want to find out where you’re at as a team.
“I think we’re above last year’s pace, and we’ve got the potential to be a good team.
“We’ve got a lot of experience coming back this year, and I just wish our younger players would show that same kind of dedication, and put in the kind of effort at practice and in games that it takes to be successful.”
Linsey Cornelius scored the Lady Pioneers’ only goal of the day, coming through early in the second half against Knoxville West.
Although they came up short against Baylor, Brownyard said the goals the Lady Pioneers allowed came because of miscues that will be corrected with time.
“This is the first time we’ve played together as one unit, in 11-vs.-11, so I think those two goals are the kind that we probably won’t give up as we get into the season,” he said. “But we improved during the day, and overall I was pretty pleased with the way we played.”