Soccer squad clips Cavaliers
COOKEVILLE — The Pioneer soccer team survived a hostile road environment, a physical foe, a one-man disadvantage and the pressure of facing a former coach to pick up an important District 7-AAA victory Tuesday.
Taking on the Cavaliers, as well as former WCHS coach Charlie Hardee, Warren County’s boys closed out their district season with a 7-1 record, as they downed Cookeville 3-1. The win clinched at least second place for the Pioneers, and gave them a share of the league lead.
Alex Guthrie scored two goals, including the Pioneers’ final score while the team was short-handed 11-to-10, as the team upped its overall mark to 7-3-1.
“This win took guts, determination, and focus, and I was proud of the guys for the way they played,” said WCHS head coach Keith Hamilton. “The last 20 minutes, when we were a man down, we had to focus on defense, and we were able to not only keep Cookeville off the scoreboard, but we were able to put up another goal.
“I’m very happy with the way the guys played, and I hope we can keep this intensity through the rest of the season.”
After 20 minutes of action during which neither team could establish offensive dominance, the Pioneers broke the scoreless tie on a corner kick from Oscar Rodriguez. Guthrie tried to head the kick into the net, but opted to settle the ball and fire a point-blank shot past Cookeville keeper Chuck Acheson.
Just two minutes later, however, Cookeville answered with a corner kick of its own. The kick was deflected off several players, and last touched by the Cavs’ Jake Wallace before slipping past WCHS goalkeeper Jonathan Bratcher.
With less than five minutes to go in the half, Guthrie beat a pair of CHS defenders, and looked to be on his way to another goal when the Cavaliers were called for a handball in the box. Rodriguez took the ensuing penalty kick, firing a shot past a diving Acheson to give WCHS a 2-1 lead at the break.
In the second half, hard collision and the resulting exchange between Andy Knowles and one of Cookeville’s players resulted in a red card being given to Knowles, meaning the Pioneers would have to play the game’s final 20 minutes with just 10 players.
Hoping their 2-1 lead would hold on, Warren County attempted to keep the ball away from their half of the field. And with the game’s final minutes winding down, Tatsuro Kusunoki fired a clearing kick that got past the midfield stripe, as well as Cookeville’s sweepers.
Guthrie raced after the ball and shook free from Acheson, who had come out of goal to try and make a desperation stop, firing in his second goal of the game and sealing the win for the Pioneers.
The Pioneers’ win, as well as Blackman’s loss Tuesday night to Riverdale, left the two teams tied for the league lead. A loss or tie by the Blaze in any of their final three district games would give the regular season championship to the Pioneers.
Warren County took on Chattanooga McCallie Thursday night, and will hold Senior Night festivities during their game against Shelbyville Central on Tuesday.