The past two seasons, the Warren County High School soccer team seemed satisfied with making it to regionals. This season, the Lady Pioneers wanted to make sure the Ooltewah Lady Owls knew Warren County didn’t just want to be seen - the Lady Pioneers wanted to win.
Behind two goals each from senior Maddie Smartt and junior Ansley Mullican, Warren County punched its ticket to the sectionals with a 5-1 win over the visiting Lady Owls Tuesday night.
Warren County (15-6-1) saw its season end the last two years at the hands of Soddy Daisy in the regional semifinals on the road, but last week’s District 6-AAA tournament championship gave the Lady Pioneers a home game this time around.
Warren County made the most of its opportunity as the Lady Pioneers scored five unanswered goals after the Lady Owls took an early lead.
Coach Todd Willmore thought the early goal by Ooltewah temporarily fazed his team, but the Lady Pioneers fought back to get the big victory.
“We had a little breakdown early that gave them a goal, but after about 20 minutes the girls really started to take over,” said Willmore. “Ooltewah put seven girls back and we started being patient and looking for our chances.”
Ooltewah stunned the Lady Pioneers and a devoted Warren County fanbase with a goal three minutes into the game.
The Lady Owls were able to catch Warren County off guard with a 40-yard throw in which had the Lady Pioneers outnumbered.
Junior Taylor Mullican tried to rush back and stop the attack, but her header went backwards and gave the Lady Owls a one-on-one opportunity against Lyndi Dodd.
Dodd couldn’t make the play as a hard shot flew past the Warren County keeper and made it 1-0 in favor of the visitors.
Trying to sit on the lead and play defense didn’t work too well for the Lady Owls.
After the opening goal, Warren County went on the offensive and began peppering shots at the Ooltewah goal. After 20 minutes, the Lady Pioneers had taken 10 shots to test the Lady Owl defense.
Smartt was finally able to get the equalizer when she banged home a shot off a corner kick from Mullican with 18 minutes to play in the first half.
Warren County wouldn’t have to wait much longer to take the lead.
After the kickoff, the Lady Pioneers regained possession and Morgan McCormick was able to make a highlight play to put her team in front for good.
McCormick took a pass in the middle of the zone, weaved past four Lady Owl defenders, then unleashed a point-blank shot that sent the keeper ducking for cover as the ball sailed over her head and into the goal.
Warren County took the 2-1 lead into halftime, but the Lady Pioneers weren’t satisfied with a one-goal advantage.
Smartt got her second goal with 12 minutes left in the game as she fired a shot from the right hash that curved its way into the left corner of the goal.
Mullican made it 4-1 four minutes later when she bombed away from the left side with a 30-yard shot that hit nothing but net.
Mullican would cap the scoring with two minutes to go when she found open room right in front of the goal and beat the keeper to give Warren County a 5-1 win.
The victory assures the Lady Pioneers a chance of advancing to the state tournament.
With a win in the regional finals last night, Warren County will play host to its sectional game Saturday against the loser of a match between Blackman and Siegel. A loss would mean the Lady Pioneers will hit the road tomorrow in search of a state-tournament bid. Saturday’s game times were unavailable at press time.