WCMS opens up with win

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Warren County’s Miguel Aparicio keeps the ball away from a defender during Monday night’s season-opening game against Tullahoma at Pistole Park. (Dale Stubblefield photo)

The Warren County Middle School boys soccer team has been a very successful program over the years and Monday night the Pioneers opened their season at home with a 4-2 win over Tullahoma. Tony Girabaldi picked up the hat trick scoring three goals in the first half.

“I really wasn’t sure what to expect,” said coach Matt Jackson. “I knew we had a solid team but we hadn’t had any time to scrimmage except with each other. It’s different when you’re going against players you don’t know, you’re not sure how the team is going to react until you get that first game under your belt. Everybody did a great job against a good Tullahoma team.”

The Pioneers didn’t waste any time getting on the board as Girabaldi picked up his first goal after finding himself all alone with a wide open field in front of him. Girabaldi scored his second goal of the game when Mauro Ponce slipped a pass to the right side of the net and Girabaldi found the back of the net for a 2-0 lead.

Tullahoma pulled within one after the Wildcats were awarded a penalty kick for a hand ball. The Pioneers answered back with five minutes left in the first half when Girabaldi once again was left all alone as he gave Warren County a 3-1 lead going into the break.

In the second period both teams pushed the ball on offense but the Pioneers’ defense did a good job of cutting of Tullahoma’s attack. Ponce scored mid-way in the second half putting his team up 4-1. Tullahoma got a little lucky with five minutes left in the game when the ball found the back of the net just past Pioneer goalie Rob Hamby. Ponce took three more shots before the game ended, but missed wide as the Pioneers picked up the win.