Pioneer soccer downs Cavs 3-1
With bad weather looming in the background, Friday night’s WCHS soccer game against Cookeville was postponed for 30 minutes to give time for the lightning to move out.
But the Pioneers’ offense used a little lightning of its own, with three goals in the first half to pick up the 3-1 win.
“Tonight was a good win for us, it feels right,” said coach Charlie Hardee. “We haven’t played up to our potential in past games and tonight the boys came out here and did a great job. It feels good to see the kids play like they did against Cookeville.”
The Pioneers came out with a determined look on their faces in the opening minutes of play. Warren County used good teamwork in the first half as the offense controlled the game.
It didn’t take long for the Pioneers to find the net. At the 29-minute mark, Tatsuro Kusunoki headed the ball into the back of the net off a corner kick as Warren County struck first for a 1-0 lead.
With just two minutes off the clock lightning would strike again, when Alex Guthrie found and open spot in the middle of the field and drove a shot from about 15 yards out to the right side of the goal to give Warren County a 2-0 lead.
Cookeville felt a sense of urgency and went to work on offense. Pioneer goalie Jonathan Bratcher didn’t have much action in the first 20 minutes of play due to good defense and control of the game by the Pioneer offense. At the 20-minute mark the Cavaliers made a push on offense and the mid-fielder headed the ball just past Bratcher for Cookeville’s first and only goal of the game.
Over the next 15 minutes Cookeville tried to tie the game, but once again solid defensive play by Warren County turn the ball back over to their offense. The Cavaliers had two opportunities to score with 12 minutes left in the half. One on an indirect kick which was turned away and the other off a corner kick which also failed.
The Pioneers turned to their offense for the last five minutes of play in the half. Good ball movement and the ability to run their passing lanes made it possible for Guthrie to score his second goal of the game at the 5:21 mark as Warren County took a 3-1 lead into the half.
The second half was controlled by the Pioneer defense. Cookeville had several chances to score in the second half but Bratcher and his defense held their ground. Inthe last five minutes of the game Bratcher stopped three aggressive attempts by Cookeville to give Warren County the win.
“We played several kids tonight. The way these kids came out and played aggressive, we had to keep fresh legs in there,” Hardee said. “With McGavock coming in here Saturday I knew they were just as tough as Riverdale and Cookeville, so I had to play a lot of people to make sure everybody got some rest so we would be ready for Saturday. When we hustle and play like we did tonight you can do that and not lose anything.”