Pioneer soccer tripped up by Riverdale
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Unfortunately, the Pioneers’ position on that stage isn’t quite as nice as they’d like it to be.
A late goal by Riverdale’s Shayne Rollins Tuesday night gave the Warriors a narrow 1-0 victory over the homestanding Pioneers, who suffered their first district loss of the season.
Rollins’ goal came with just 3:20 left in the contest, as was the only dark spot on the night for the Pioneers’ keepers. Davey Britton, who gave up the game-deciding goal, finished with six saves, while Tucker Chastain, who began the second half in the net while Britton was treated by the team’s athletic trainer, recorded two stops.
The Pioneers limited Riverdale to just four shots, while taking eight of their own.
Now at 4-1-1 in league play, the Pioneers are 1-1/2 games behind the district-leading Blackman Blaze, and will face Blackman on the road Saturday in a game which could decide the regular-season title.
Blackman, which is ranked No. 7 in the state, stands at 4-0-0, with White County, the Pioneers and Cookeville left on its district schedule. Should the Pioneers beat Blackman, and if the Blaze either lose or tie one of their other remaining games, Warren County could clinch the championship.
“You can throw a ring over the top four finishers in this district, the race is that tight,” said Pioneer coach Keith Hamilton. “We’re still in the hunt, but we’re going to have to have some help now.
“Our destiny was in our own hands, but now we’re going to have some help by somebody else.”
Cookeville and Riverdale, which were scheduled to play Thursday night, both currently have just one league loss. The loser of their contest will fall behind the Pioneers, while a tie between the Warriors and Cavaliers would put them both in a three-way tie with the WCHS for second place in the 7-AAA standings.
In addition to losing Tuesday’s game, Warren County also lost a pair of key players during the contest. Freshman Tony Garibaldi took a kick to his leg late in the game, and left the field, but was back at practice on Wednesday and is expected to be in action this weekend.
Sophomore Cody Cowans suffered a strained groin muscle early in the second half, and although he tried to return to the field, he came back out of the game midway through the half and is questionable for Saturday’s game at Blackman.
Game time Saturday in Murfreesboro is set for 7 p.m., with a junior varsity matchup scheduled for 5 p.m.
District 7-AAA soccer standings
Through Tuesday, April 26
Team Rec
Blackman 4-0-0
Riverdale 4-1-0
Warren Co. 4-1-1
Cookeville 3-1-0
Siegel 2-3-1
Lebanon 1-3-0
Oakland 0-4-0
White Co. 0-4-0