Soccer team trounced 6-1

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Warren County goalkeeper Jonathan Bratcher leaps up to bat away a shot while surrounded by Soddy Daisy and WCHS players during Thursday night’s game. (Dale Stubblefield photo)

Soddy Daisy came calling on Warren County Thursday night to take on the Pioneer soccer team. The Trojans struck early and never looked back to take a 6-1 win.

Warren County came out aggressive in the opening minutes and controlled the field on both offense and defense. But with 17 minutes off the clock in the first half, the Trojans found the back of the net to take an early lead 1-0. It didn’t take long for Soddy Daisy to build on its lead when they added their second goal with 18 minutes to play in the half. Soddy Daisy scored their third goal off a corner kick when the mid-fielder took a corner kick and headed the ball in the net for a 3-0 lead.

The Pioneers picked up the tempo on offense over the next 15 minutes of play. Tatsuro Kusunoki broke away from the defense and fired a shot from 17 yards out that caught the corner of the post. Tatsuro followed his attempt and fired again but this time the Trojan goalie made a diving save to his right to keep the Pioneers off the score board. Warren County continued to play aggressive on offense but time ran out in the first half as Warren County trailed 3-0.

In the second half Warren County tried to rally early in the second half but Soddy Daisy stepped up the defense and quickly turned it into an offensive explosion. The Trojans scored three goals within an eight minute time frame. With 23 minutes left in the game Soddy Daisy had built a 6-0 lead.

Warren County struggled to get any offense going as time started to run out for the Pioneers. The Pioneers only score in the game came at the 2:21 mark when Soddy Daisy was called for a hand ball in the box. Oscar Rodriguez lined the ball up for the Pioneers and fired a shot to the top left of the net to put Warren County on the board 6-1. The clock continued to tick as the Pioneers hopes of victory vanished. Warren County is now at 3-7 on the season with Soddy Daisy improving to 8-3.

“We played a very good first half,” said coach Charlie Hardee. “The team played the way their capable of playing. We had good ball movement on offense and played very well on defense in the first half. It was our youth and lack of experience that showed in the second half. Over all we played a solid game against a very good Soddy Daisy team. We have to continue to improve and keep learning from our mistakes.”