Fight mars Senior Night – Post-match scuffle follows Pioneers? win
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Warren County picked up the 3-1 non-district win over Livingston Academy, but Senior Night and the win were tarnished when five red cards were handed out for fighting.
Three players from Livingston and two from Warren County will be sitting out at least one game after things turned ugly during the final three minutes of the game and spilled over after the final whistle had blown.
Several scuffles broke out during the game, and after play ended tempers continued to flare, with a player from each side exchanging blows before being separated by coaches and officials.
The incident will be reviewed by TSSAA officials, with the two players fighting after the game facing possible suspensions for the rest of the year.
The Pioneers had the game well under control by the end of the first half, with a 2-0 lead at the break. Shots at goal were fairly even as the Pioneers attempted seven shots and one corner kick, while the Wildcats had five shots and two corner kicks.
Warren County out-played its guests for most of the half, but it took until the 14:24 mark for the Pioneers to get on the board. With some fancy footwork Tony Garibaldi found the back of the net, driving the ball past Livingston keeper David Brady.
Warren County continued to control the game on both ends of the field, and scored its second goal of the half off the foot of Cody Cowans at the 8:21 mark.
The game became more physical in the second half, resulting in several yellow cards being pulled as players were cited for rough play. Warren County?s Saul Simpson was called for a shove in the box at the 28:32 mark, giving the Wildcats a penalty kick, but Tucker Chastian came up big at goalie for the Pioneers stopping the kick dead in its tracks.
Livingston kept the ball on offense, and a minute later David Bradly pulled Chastain from the net and scored for the Wildcats to trim the deficit to a goal. With 8:07 left in the game Garibaldi scored his second goal, however, putting the Pioneers out in front 3-1.
The Pioneers had things well in hand, but during the final minutes of the game both teams showed signs of frustration, which escalated into several elbows and shoves by both teams. Warren County held on to pick up the victory, the win was marred as that frustration turned physical after the final whistle.
Warren County will travel to Blackman on Tuesday for a big District 7-AAA contest, which could decide the Pioneers? seed in the district tournament. The Pioneers are now 9-2 on the year and 4-1 in district play. The Blaze are 2-0-1 with three district games remaining.