WCHS soccer ties at Lebanon

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Stacy Kennamer brings the ball downfield during a recent Lady Pioneer soccer match. Kennamer and her Warren County teammates had to settle for a 1-1 tie in district play Tuesday at Lebanon. (Dale Stubblefield photo)

The Lady Pioneer soccer team traveled to Lebanon on Tuesday for a District 7-AAA battle with the Lady Blue Devils. The two teams had to settle for a 1-1 tie, giving Warren County a 0-1-2 district record and a 1-4-2 mark overall.

For the last three, games Warren County has started out slow and against Lebanon was no exception as for the first 12 minutes the Lady Blue Devils controlled the game. The Lady Pioneers defense had trouble getting back in position, but Warren County started to pick up the pace on offense towards the end of the first half.

With nine minutes to play, however, a defensive mid-field breakdown by Warren County produced Lebanon’s first goal of the game as the Lady Blue Devils took a 1-0 lead into the half.

After regrouping at halftime, Warren County came out more aggressive on offense. Lady Pioneer Vanessa Cornelius worked her way behind the Lebanon defense and received a pass from a Lady Pioneer mid-fielder. Cornelius fired a shot to the lower left-hand corner of the net past a diving Christian Kirkland to tie the game at 1-1.

Warren County’s’ defense controlled the second half with the exception of a few breakdowns at mid-field, but the Lady Pioneers kept Lebanon off the scoreboard.

Warren County had several chances late in the game to kick the go-ahead goal in two-on-two situations, but the Lady Pioneers failed to make the pass and Warren County’s chances to win the game were foiled.

The Lady Pioneers had 16 shots at goal while the Lady Blue Devils had six shots. Lady Pioneer goalie Erin Wolford picked up five saves on the day.

“This was an extremely frustrating game,” said coach Keith Hamilton. ” We out-played Lebanon for most of the day, but we didn’t communicate on the field. We didn’t play as a team and our play was selfish. We had open players but for some reason we didn’t pass the ball and it cost us the game.

“Stacey Kennamer played extremely well today, she was one of our few bright spots. Until we learn to be a team these things are going to continue to happen. It’s very aggravating we you know you can beat a team and our girls don’t step up and get the job done.”

The Lady Pioneers will travel to Chattanooga today for a tournament at Chattanooga Christian. Warren County will take on Ooltewah in its first match today at 5 p.m.