WCMS takes third at tourney: Pioneers fall to Tullahoma, blank Gators

Carlos Lopez, left, takes the ball away from a Tullahoma player during Saturday?s tournament at Pistole Park.

Adam Fann got things going for WCMS just two minutes into the win over North, scoring on a penalty kick after the Gators were called for a handball in the box.

Moments later, Luis Garcia scored the first of his two goals in the game, taking possession of the ball near midfield and beating his defender to the goal before firing a close range shot into the right side of the net to give his team a 2-0 lead it would carry into halftime.

Early after intermission, Warren County?s Cole Warden once again beat the Gator keeper with a short-range shot, putting the Pioneers up 3-0, and less than four minutes later, Garcia struck from 15 yards out for what would prove to be the Pioneers? final goal of the game.

Warren County dominated the Gator end of the field for much of the contest, especially in the first half, when they took 21 shots. North?s keeper turned away nine attempts, while several others went just high or wide of the net. The Pioneers? keepers were not very busy on the afternoon, but turned away what few shots the Gators did manage to keep the shutout intact.

? The Pioneers found themselves in Saturday?s third-place game after falling in their opening-round matchup against the Tullahoma Middle Wildcats, 3-1.

The two squads battled for the entire first half, with neither team finding the back of the net. But Warren County?s Carlos Lopez appeared to break the scoreless tie, when he fired a shot past Tullahoma?s keeper to seemingly give the Pioneers the lead. The shot was wiped off due to an offsides call, however, and the teams went into halftime still tied at 0-0.

One minute into the second half, Tullahoma erased its goose egg when Josh Ferrell fired a shot past keeper Chad Womack from 20 yards out, giving his team the lead. The shot seemed to take some of the wind out of the Pioneers? sails, as Tullahoma added two more quick goals to go ahead 3-0.

Garcia came through for the Pioneers late in the contest, firing a corner kick which curled perfectly into the far side of the Tullahoma net for what would prove to be the game?s final score.

WCMS took 12 shots in the game, while Womack recorded eight saves.