Two ties weren’t the way coach Todd Willmore and the Warren County High School soccer team envisioned the season starting, but it is better than two losses.
For the second straight game, the Pioneers finished a game tied with their opponent. This time, Warren County and DeKalb County ended up tying 2-2.
Coach Willmore knows the opportunity for a victory was right at the feet of his team Tuesday.
“We missed opportunities,” said Willmore. “Our guys played hard and I was pleased with their effort. We just have to do a better job of capitalizing on our opportunities.”
Warren County held the lead twice against the Tigers, but couldn’t hold on to the lead either time.
The Pioneers got the scoring started midway through the first half when Jesus Gonzalez found Robert Eschenbacher roaming free in the middle of the Tiger defense.
Gonzalez played the ball into the zone and Eschenbacher found the back of the net to make the score 1-0.
Warren County looked like it would hold the lead going into halftime, but the Tigers slipped in a goal late.
Senior Ricardo Duenas, who started his first game at keeper, saw DeKalb County get off a long shot that cleared the keeper’s head and locked the score at one.
The Pioneers came out in the second half and controlled much of the action.
On a night where Warren County had three clear scoring opportunities wiped away by penalties, Gonzalez finally made one stick in the second half.
Gonzalez got free right outside the 18-yard box and made the Tiger keeper commit before blasting a shot right by him.
The score stayed at 2-1 until the Pioneers were called for another costly penalty.
A handball in the box, which looked like incidental contact, gave the Tigers a penalty kick instead of a free kick.
DeKalb County made the most of the big break and tied the game at two.
Neither team could score in overtime and the game finished with another tie for the Pioneers.
Warren County will have the weekend off before returning to action next Tuesday with a road trip to Ooltewah. The match is set to begin at 5 p.m.